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East Kalimantan to Integrate Palm Oil, Corn Fields
East Kalimantan to Integrate Palm Oil, Corn Fields
08/08/2016 (Tempo.co) - East Kalimantan Province will integrate palm oil and corn fields. East Kalimantan Research and Development Center head Dwi Nugraho Hidayanto said the scheme could be developed to achieve food security.
According to him, palm oil and corn are most suitable to be planted in East Kalimantan.
“The integration of palm oil and corn [fields] will diversify carbohydrate intake, we should not [depend] only on rice, but also on corn and cassava as well as on other foods,” he told Bisnis.com, Sunday, August 7, 2016.
He considered that East Kalimantan palm oil plantations have a huge potential and integration of palm oil, corn field needs to be done to realize food security. “Thailand, for example, thrives on agriculture because it is focused and continues to conduct scientific study,” he said.
Therefore, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman’s directive on integration of palm oil, corn fields is welcome. “However, a study needs to be made by Agriculture and Food Security Department as well as Plantation Department because its success will realize East Kalimantan food security bid,” Dwi said.
East Kalimantan Plantation Department head Etnawati said that basically the plan for the integration of palm oil, corn field initiatied by Food Minister Amran Sulaiman is welcome and could be successful considering the region’s vast area.
“At present, East Kalimantan has over 1 million hectares of palm oil plantations. If we want to work on it, it has potential, moreover, we could partner with private sectors. We will coordinate with Plantation Department head in districts/cities to act upon the integration of palm oil, corn [fields],” Etnawati said.
According to him, palm oil and corn are most suitable to be planted in East Kalimantan.
“The integration of palm oil and corn [fields] will diversify carbohydrate intake, we should not [depend] only on rice, but also on corn and cassava as well as on other foods,” he told Bisnis.com, Sunday, August 7, 2016.
He considered that East Kalimantan palm oil plantations have a huge potential and integration of palm oil, corn field needs to be done to realize food security. “Thailand, for example, thrives on agriculture because it is focused and continues to conduct scientific study,” he said.
Therefore, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman’s directive on integration of palm oil, corn fields is welcome. “However, a study needs to be made by Agriculture and Food Security Department as well as Plantation Department because its success will realize East Kalimantan food security bid,” Dwi said.
East Kalimantan Plantation Department head Etnawati said that basically the plan for the integration of palm oil, corn field initiatied by Food Minister Amran Sulaiman is welcome and could be successful considering the region’s vast area.
“At present, East Kalimantan has over 1 million hectares of palm oil plantations. If we want to work on it, it has potential, moreover, we could partner with private sectors. We will coordinate with Plantation Department head in districts/cities to act upon the integration of palm oil, corn [fields],” Etnawati said.