ThePresidentPost.com – Banyuwangi Regent Anwar Abdullah Anas inaugurates and do the grand harvest of hybrid rice at Kopenlaban, Banyuwangi, Tuesday (10/6/2015.

The grand harvest was conducted in an area of 4 hectares of rice fields assisted by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Plantation Banyuwangi.

“This harvest, indicating the outstanding spirit of farmers in work. Moreover, the hard work is supported by the government that helps provide seed,” said Anas.

After doing grand harvest, Regent Anas dialogue with hundreds of farmers in the area. Farmer on the occasion asked the district government to improve tertiary irrigation facilities.

“The water is enough, just sometimes the waterways leak. We hope it can be repaired soon,” said Sulaiman, one of the farmers.

Head of Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Plantation Banyuwangi Ikrori Hudanto said, hybrid rice planted this time is kind of a crossbreeding used as seeds. Hybrid rice has advantages far greater than ordinary rice.

“The number could reach 30-40 clump. So is the amount of grain, more than 350 grains per clump. Compared to other species, reaching only 200 grains,” said Ikhrori.

With that result, he said, the production result is practically greater. One hectare can produce 8.3 tons, while only 6.3 tons of ordinary rice.

Ikhrori adeed, rice seeds will be maximized if a way of cropping using the system rice intensification (SRI). SRI is also more economical in breeding. If using SRI requires only 10-15kg/ha, whereas conventional systems should provide 50-60kg seeds/ha.

Besides four hectares in Kabat, he said, there are 40 hectares of paddy rice fields which are assisted by the government. For this program the government allocates 1.7 million pilot project assistance for each one hectare of land planting. The aid was used from the nursery up to purchase fertilizers, medicines and harvest.

Just a note, irrigated rice area in Banyuwangi reached 65,457ha, with an average harvested area in 2010- 2014 of about 119,005ha and average rice production of 784,147tonnes/ha. While rice production from January until September 2015, the harvested area of 106,154 ha, productivity reached 65.28tonnes/ha.(qoi)