Inaugurates Way Leman Dam, President Jokowi Determined to Make Buru Island as Rice Barn of Maluku

President Jokowi delivered a speech during visits to Buru Island, Maluku, Thursday (7/5)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) accompanied by First Lady Iriana visited Buru Island, Maluku, Thursday (7/5). On this occasion, President Jokowi launched Planting Rice and inauguration of Way Leman Dam, and handed Family Welfare Card (KKS), Indonesia Healthy Card (KIS) and Indonesia Smart Card (KIP), in the village of Wanareja, Gelar Way Apo, Buru Regency.

While giving a speech at the launching, President Jokowi expressed his determination to make Buru as the largest rice producer in Maluku.

“I saw the rice here is very fertile rice fields, however it does need intensive treatment, so that the production of rice in Maluku province, is the rice were taken from the island of Buru, not from other provinces,” President Jokowi said.

He said that the inauguration Leman Way Dam is part of the efforts to achieve the target of Buru as the rice barn of Maluku.

Once the is completed Way Leman Dam, is expected to expand rice cultivation to be irrigated, increased to 2500 ha, with cropping intensity three times a year and productivity increases of up to 7 tons of GKG/ha.

In Buru Island itself, according to a report from the Governor of Maluku, Said Assegaf, there are about more than 10 thousand hectares of agricultural land.

Jokowi president also promised to return in two years later, to see the results of the farm in the island of Buru. “Please invite me during the main harvest,” President Jokowi asked.

Budget of Rp 25.81 Billion

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Hadimuljono Basuki said that the construction of Way Leman Dam in Buru, spent the budget of Rp 25.81 billion.

With the completion of construction of the dam Way Leman, Basuki convinced that agricultural production of Buru Island will increase significantly. “Rice of 2,805 tons/year to 30,000 tons/year and the crops of 1,403 tons/year to 5,000 tons/year.

Furthermore Basuki said, in order to support infrastructure development, the Government through the Ministry of PUPR has allocated through the state budget and DAK of Rp 3.44 trillion in 2015.

Attending the event were the Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Minister PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono, and Maluku Governor Said Assegaf. (Puskop PUPR/ES)