REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG PANJANG -- Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture has allocated Rp1.120 billion from the 2016 state budget (APBN) to farmers of Padang Panjang, a city in the West Sumatra Province, to support the cultivation of horticultural crops.

"The assistance was given to a group of farmers who have about 40 hectares of agricultural land," Head of Padang Panjang's Agriculture Affairs Office, Ade Navita Anas, stated here on Wednesday.

Anas said farmers are eligible to receive Rp28 million for each hectare of farmland, and the money can be used to buy chili seeds and for looking after the crop.

"The assistance was delivered in the form of goods such as seeds, fertilizer and other material required at the farm to plant chili or any other crop," Anas said.

Anas noted the assistance will be distributed to farmers as soon as possible. "The assistance is a form of help extended by the government to farmers who have horticultural crops to improve their agricultural business," she remarked.

Anas hoped Padang Panjang's farmers utilize the assistance given by the central government in the best way possible.

"We hope the assistance helps in enhancing the yield of horticultural crops, such as chili, in Padang Panjang, " Anas stressed.

Padang Panjang City has more than 600 hectares of agricultural land. Most of the local people grow paddy.

Although only a small proportion of agricultural land is used to plant horticultural crops, the city administration of Padang Panjang is optimistic about increasing the crop yield by working through the Agriculture Affairs Office.

A farmer in Padang Panjang, Malin said he was grateful for the assistance that the Ministry of Agriculture has given to the local farmers.

"The assistance will be fully utilized to improve agricultural output," he said.

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