Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru – Riau Governor Rusli Zainal on Tuesday warned residents and officials against the large-scale conversion of farmland into plantations, which he said would threaten food security in the province.
"Farmland conversion must be restricted from an early stage," said Rusli during a harvest event in Sidodadi hamlet, Danau Lancang village, in Tapung Hulu district, Kampar regency, on Tuesday.
The large-scale conversion of farmland into plantations, especially oil palm and rubber plantations, is being pushed by the high economic value of these commodities, which are less likely to suffer harvest failure than food crops and which are less labor intensive.
Rusli praised farmers who have refused to convert their land into plantations.
The provincial administration has introduced several initiatives to boost the farming sector. These initiatives include efforts to get people to grow corn on 414 hectares of communal farmland in the Danau Lancang area.
Around 100 hectares of corn has been planted in the initial stage of this effort. According to plans, the farmland will also be used to grow rice.
One obstacle to the plan is the lack of irrigation. So far, farmers have been able to irrigate just 75 hectares of the area. Farmers involved in the initiative have requested government assistance in building an irrigation network, as well as obtaining fertilizer and seed stocks. Rusli promised the farmers assistance from the provincial administration.
"We provide subsidies for farmers. Please coordinate with the local agricultural office and logistics agency. I have asked them to give the farmers what they need because rice and corn are crucial...," said Rusli.
During the harvest event, Rusli presented farmers with 20 hand tractors, corn seed for 150 hectares, rice seedlings for 100 hectares and a number of farming tools.
Around 67 percent of residents in Kampar regency are involved in the agricultural sector. However, due to poor harvests, the number of farmers has dwindled through the years as more land has been converted into plantations.
"The conversion of food crop farms into plantations continues unabated from year to year," Kampar Agricultural Office head Wesrizal told reporters.
According to Wesrizal, 2,070 hectares of farmland was converted between 2004 and 2006. "On average, 500 hectares of crop land here is converted into plantations each year," he said.
In total, there are 11,542 hectares of corn fields in Kampar, and 2,075 hectares of rice fields.
"The area has somewhat expanded after the Kampar administration opened another 75 hectares for new rice fields, and it plans to open an additional 133 hectares this year," said Wesrizal.