RODOK – PROTOCOL AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATION BUREAU. Central Kalimantan Governor Sugianto Sabran accompanied by the Regent of East Barito and his entourage inaugurated the Rice Milling Unit (RMU) in Rodok Village, Dusun Tengah District, East Barito Regency, Saturday (25/1/2020). The Head of Food Crops, Horticulture and Plantation Office of Central Kalimantan Province Sunarti had the honor of cutting the ribbon that marked the official inauguration of RMU.

Governor revealed that currently four regencies have received modern rice grinders with total price is around Rp 2 billions of which one is in East Barito.

“We will try, whether our agriculture products are going to be maximum or not. If the products are maximum, later in 2021 we will set a budget again into our Regional Budget of Central Kalimantan to purchase these kinds of grinders,“ Governor Sugianto Sabran explained.

Governor hopes that Central Kalimantan may become a rice producer that is not dependent on other regions or self-dependent and dignified because the province has an agricultural area of ​​283 thousand hectares and produces about 800 thousand tons of dry grain per year.

Central Kalimantan currently has a rice surplus of around 140 thousand tons / year and East Barito contributes approximately 2400 tons / year. East Barito regency has also been producing rice, namely Gumi Nansarunai.

This inauguration was a part of the national organic rice certificate handover through an internal control system issued by the certification body, Seloliman Organic, Mojokerto. The certificate was handed over by Governor to the Regent of East Barito and then handed over to Pancar Karya Farmer Group from Ampah Village, Dusun Tengah District.

The event was also part of giving the aid to food crops program of Central Kalimantan Province in form of two units of corn planting equipment to Bansunir, Chairperson of Sama Taka Farmer Group from Paku District, and Mardani, Chairperson of Suka Maju Farmer Group from Paku District.

On the same day, Governor was accompanied by the Regent of East Barito and his entourage went to Tumpung Ulung Village, Pematang Karau District, East Barito Regency. Upon his arrival at the location for rice planting event in Tumpung Ulung Village, Governor was welcomed by the Head of Pematang Karau District.

Governor Sugianto Sabran symbolically planted Inpari-30 variety rice using rice planting equipment, rice planter. Also present at the Rice Planting Movement were the Regent and Vice Regent of East Barito, numbers of Heads of Provincial Government Organizations, Provincial Leadership Coordination Forum members and local officials, as well as a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Agustiar Sabran. (ran/sty/eka/lan/ist/translated by feb)