The Department of Food Crops and Horticulture (TPH) of the Central Sulawesi Provincial Government said a number of agricultural innovation programs can increase productivity and sustainable regional food production. "Agriculture is the main sector of Central Sulawesi which until now still remains productive which contributes greatly to the improvement of the regional economy," said Head of the Central Sulawesi TPH Office Nelson Metubun who was contacted in Palu, Central Sulawesi quoted from Antara, Sunday, August 21, 2022. He explained that every year Central Sulawesi always has a rice surplus at 90 thousand to 125 thousand tons, so it is considered that the availability of food in the area is sufficient and able to supply the rice needs of a number of surrounding areas. In order to boost production more, this year the Provincial Government of Central Sulawesi has adopted a number of innovation programs launched by the Ministry of Agriculture including the 400 Planting Index (IP400), then sustainable agriculture through food industry villages or food estates, including the preparation of the Archipelago's food estates. Specifically, for the IP400 program, he said, it is currently being tested on an area of 10,000 hectares in seven areas, namely Donggala, Sigi, Parigi Moutong, Poso, Banggai, Banggai Laut and Banggai Islands Regencies. "The planning of the food estate program is encouraged by two regions, namely Tolitoli and Buol Regencies, but it does not rule out the possibility of expanding to other districts, then the target of the archipelago food area program in Donggala and Sigi Regencies. According to him, the success of efforts to increase food production cannot be separated from the hard work of farmers, both individual management, farmer groups and farmer groups.

According to data from the Central Sulawesi Food Security Service, the area of paddy rice farming in this province is approximately 140,100 hectares and 23.27% or 32,600 hectares of which are in Parigi Moutong. "In addition to paddy rice, Central Sulawesi is also still boosting field rice production on an area of 13,420 hectares with the realization of production in 2021 reaching 37,814 tons with a productivity of 37.87 quintals per hectare from a harvest area of 9,985 hectares. Paddy fields cannot use the IP400 scheme so the treatment remains natural," nelson said. This year, he said, the target of field rice production is 39,328 tons and productivity is 29.31 quintals per hectare on the land area that was greeted the previous year. He added that in addition to rice, there are also corn and soybean commodities which are the basis for Central Sulawesi's food production strength. "This year's soybean production target is 14,616 tons of dry beans from the previous year's realization of 2,020 tons of dry beans and the realization of corn commodities of 102,791 tons of dry pipilan on an area of approximately 70,000 hectares. All commodities from food crops and horticulture we strive to contribute to the region and the country," concluded Nelson.

Source : https://m.medcom.id/amp/9K5aRe0K-pemprov-sulteng-inovasi-pertanian-mampu-tingkatkan-produksi-pangan