Harvick Hasnul Qolbi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture (Wamentan), inspected a large paddy crop in Pulomulya Village, Lemahabang District, Karawang Regency, West Java. The West Java Provincial Food Crops Office (BSIP) hosted the event on a 10-hectare field where the Inpari 36 and Inpari 37 paddy varieties were grown. Harvick advised local governments (Pemda) to sustain agricultural production and productivity in order to assist national food security. This is especially important given that Indonesia is presently undergoing an extended dry season induced by the El Nino weather phenomena, which is predicted to linger through August. Karawang's importance as the world's second-largest rice grower and important food reserve area demanded that output be maintained indefinitely. Karawang's fertile soil, combined with its reputation as Indonesia's greatest paddy center, has never been questioned in terms of agriculture, notably rice production. The adoption of excellent paddy cultivars from the West Java BSIP is expected to enhance rice productivity even further. Discussions were held with several farmer organizations during the tour, and the distribution of Inpari 36 and Inpari 37 paddy seeds was facilitated.
Bupati Karawang, Cellica Nurrachadiana, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) for its assistance and attention to rice production in West Java. Karawang's average yearly production, which includes 95 thousand hectares of rice fields, is roughly 1.3 million tons. When converted into rice, this equates to approximately 800 thousand tons. With two planting seasons per year and a total cultivated area of 190 thousand hectares in Karawang, the average paddy production of 7-8 tons per hectare amounts to 1.3 million tons annually.
Rustam Massinai, the Head of West Java BSIP, further highlighted that the harvested varieties are superior with high yield potential and resistance against diseases such as tungro and blast. In the past, a yield of 13.3 tons per hectare has been achieved in Indramayu. A gradual distribution of 50 tons of free seeds to farmers in West Java is planned for 2023. The introduction of Inpari 36 and 37 is expected to enhance rice production in West Java, ultimately establishing West Java as the champion of seeds in 2023.
