President Jokowi Inspects Food Estate in East Nusa Tenggara

President Jokowi inspecting the food estate in Makata Keri village, Katiku Tana subdistrict, Central Sumba regency, East Nusa Tenggara province. (Photo: Press Bureau of Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday (23/2) visited a food estate located in Makata Keri village, Katiku Tana sub-district, Central Sumba regency, East Nusa Tenggara province.

The development of the food estate is the Government’s long-term program for the province.

During the visit, the President announced that the food estate will be expanded to 10,000 hectares.

“Indeed, here in Central Sumba regency, we have prepared 5,000 hectares only, 3,000 of which are planted with rice, then the other 2,000 (hectares) are planted with corn. But in the future, it will be expanded to an area of 10,000 hectares, which will be divided; 5,600 hectares for rice and 4,400 hectares for corn,” he said.

Furthermore, the President pointed out that the food estate is developed in East Nusa Tenggara, particularly in Central Sumba, due to high poverty rate and low rice harvest frequency in the region.

“(Based on) the data I have, 34 percent of poverty is found here. And the harvest in Central Sumba happens only once a year, namely rice harvest. And we want to manage so that there can be two rice harvests a year and one corn or soybean harvest a year,” he stated.

On that occasion, the President also addressed the issue of water supply, including raw water and irrigation, in all of East Nusa Tenggara.

“Indeed, the key is water. Therefore, here we see there are drilled wells built in 2015-2018 irrigating rice fields. There are also retention basins. Some retention basins here, large retention basins have also been constructed, but they are still far from enough. Still insufficient,” he remarked.

The Government, the President added, has built several retention basins and dams in East Nusa Tenggara province and will continue to build more.

“I have ordered Minister of Public Works and Housing to study the probability to build a dam and additional retention basis and drilled wells,” he said, adding that he has also ordered Minister of Agriculture to provide the necessary agricultural machinery.

“Later followed by the Ministry of Agriculture to assist with the lack of agricultural machinery. Tractors, especially, are indispensable,” he added.

The President expressed optimism that with those efforts, the food estate will be developed well, so the food estates in Central Kalimantan, North Sumatera, and East Nusa Tenggara provinces will be able to support the national food security program.

“Later, we will replicate it in other provinces that are prepared,” stated the Head of State.

Following the visit to the food estate in Central Sumba regency, the President was also scheduled to inaugurate Napun Gete Dam in Ilinmedo village, Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, which has been built since 2016.

Joining the President during the visit were Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung and Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information/FID/UN) (DH/EP)