Ternate, N Maluku, Jan 17 (Antaranews Maluku) - The North Halmahera District Administration will develop the area in North Maluku Province into a corn production center, by utilizing the land in each district.
"The District Administration has planned the development of corn center in North Halmahera, with an area of 14,300 hectares. It is expected to be fully realized by 2018," the Head of North Halmahera Agriculture Office, Valentino, said here on Wednesday.
To realize the program, the North Halmahera Administration continues to conduct various breakthroughs, such as providing superior seeds and agricultural facilities to farmers, as well as building the necessary infrastructures, including irrigation and farm lands.
In addition, Valentino stated that the District Administration is seeking to market the farmers` corn production through cooperation with two companies in Java, which are ready to buy the produce at the government?s benchmark price.
The farmers in North Halmahera are enthusiastic about developing corn production because, in addition to getting full support from the local administration, they also enjoy a very good result of about seven tons per hectare.
Valentino added that North Halmahera also continues to encourage the development of paddy fields in the area to meet the local needs and reduce the district`s dependence on rice from other regions.
One of the areas in North Halmahera which has been a rice center is Kao Barat District. Last week, the farmers in that area harvested rice from 90 hectares of paddy fields, with one hectare producing seven tons of rice.
He added that the local administration cooperates with the National Armed Force for processing the lands, maintaining the fields, and managing the harvest, in order to succeed with the corn and rice paddy development programs in North Halmahera.
(KR-LWA/INE)
EDITED BY INE/H-YH
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/B/H-YH) 17-01-2018 18:19:43
Editor : John Nikita S
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Ambon, Maluku 2018