Central Kalimantan holds rice harvests across five regencies

Central Kalimantan Province held simultaneous rice harvests in the regencies of East Kotawaringin, North Barito, Seruyan, East Barito, and Pulang Pisau on Apr. 7, 2025. The harvest occasion was led directly by the Central Kalimantan Governor Agustiar Sabran, with the center of the occasion in Pantik Village, Pandih Batu District, Pulang Pisau Regency.

The total harvest area in this province reached 6,634 hectares (ha) for the simultaneous harvest, and the potential harvest during April 2025 is targeted to encompass 11,341 ha across nine regencies and cities.

The harvest occasion was also attended by regents of said five regencies, seven deputy regents, Agriculture Ministry Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities (PSP) Director General Andi Nur Alamsyah, Central Kalimantan Regional Police Chief Ir. Gen. Pol. Iwan Kurniawan, Military Resort 102/Panju Panjung Commander (Danrem 102/PJG) Brig. Gen. Wimoko, and members of Regional Leadership Coordination Forums across Central Kalimantan.

During the occasion, Agustiar expressed his gratitude for President Prabowo's attention to Central Kalimantan.

"Thank you for your attention to Central Kalimantan, Mr. President. Subsidized fertilizers have been well-maintained [and] Central Kalimantan's agricultural productivity has reached 6.5 tons per ha, which is above the national average," said Agustiar during the harvest in Central Kalimantan

Central Kalimantan has recorded a significant increase in rice production in the last three years. In 2023, production reached 330,781 tons, and then increased to 366,147 tons in 2024. For 2025, the government is targeting production of 475,991 tons, up 30 percent from 2024, which indicated optimism and commitment to improving food security in the region.

Agriculture Ministry PSP Director General Andi Nur Alam Syah explained that the performance of farmers in Central Kalimantan has been supported by the allocation of pre-harvest agricultural machinery assistance such as two- and four-wheeled tractors, and 864 units of agricultural hand pump water sprayers in 2024.

"At the beginning of 2025, a total of 370 pre-harvest agricultural machinery units have been prepared to accelerate planting in the second planting season," explained Andi.

He added that the availability of fertilizer is also an important factor in agricultural production. Thus, the Central Kalimantan Province received an allocation of 33,257 tons of subsidized fertilizer, which Andi said has been utilized well by farmers.

"The [rate of] subsidized fertilizers that has been received [by farmers] was good until the end of March, reaching 20 percent, and farmers are now preparing to use the fertilizer for the second planting season," Andi elaborated.