Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman stands at the edge of rice fields in Merauke District, South Papua, Wednesday (24/7/2024). ANTARA/HO-Humas Kementan

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Agriculture has developed a superior Cakrabuana Agritan rice variety in Merauke District, South Papua, to make the area a food basket for eastern Indonesia.

“This variety is said to be climate change adaptive and has high productivity, so its use is believed to be able to increase farmers’ production,” Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman noted in a statement from the ministry in Jakarta, Wednesday.

He remarked that this is in line with the government’s efforts currently focused on accelerating rice production to avoid the threat of a food crisis that is impacting several countries worldwide.

“This is very good, very fertile; the potential is extraordinary. We are conducting the test run of the Cakrabuana variety; the production potential is up to nine to 10 tons per hectare. We will develop this in Merauke later for one million hectares,” Sulaiman revealed.

The minister explained that the planting of the variety in Merauke had undergone trials and showed maximum results despite being carried out on swamp land.

The Cakrabuana variety had good adaptability, thereby making it an ideal choice for farmers, especially when the government targets Merauke as a food basket in eastern Indonesia.

Earlier, on Tuesday (July 23), the minister accompanied Indonesian President Joko Widodo to visit modern agricultural land in Kurik, Merauke District.

“The president fully supports the development of rice in Merauke with technology, full mechanization, and superior seeds. This variety can produce up to 10 tons per hectare,” the minister remarked.

Secretary of the Agricultural Instrument Standardization Agency (BSIP) Haris Syahbuddin stated that apart from high productivity, fast plant maturity is another advantage of the variety, making it suitable for increasing the planting index.

“The Cakrabuana Agritan variety, owned by the Ministry of Agriculture, has a potential of 10.2 tons per hectare. In Merauke, it can reach more than eight tons per hectare. This variety also matures in 10 days as compared to other varieties,” Syahbuddin explained.

Syahbuddin also revealed that the variety is resistant to pests and diseases and can adapt to various environmental conditions, such as drought and floods. Farmers around Merauke are highly enthusiastic about this rice variety.

“This variety has been proven to be resistant to blast disease, so farmers have sufficient time to manage water availability, especially during the dry season. Many farmers are asking for Cakrabuana,” Syahbuddin remarked.

The cultivation of the Cakrabuana variety in various regions, including Merauke, has shown positive results. Farmers who grew this variety reported significant increases in yields.

Apart from contributing to increasing national rice production, the development of the variety is expected to have a direct impact on increasing the farmers’ income and welfare.

Published Date: July 24, 2024