PALU -- Central Sulawesi managed to achieve a surplus in rice production, reaching 280 thousand tons in 2016, according to a local official. "The surplus increased as compared to those recorded in the previous years," Trie Iriany Lamakampali, head of the local food crops and horticulture office, stated here, Monday.

It indicated that the government's program to boost the production of paddy, maize, and soybean was successful, although the increase was not significant, he remarked. The program in Central Sulawesi Province has been supported by military officers and other concerned institutions, among others.

The province has adequate seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to boost the production of paddy, maize, and soybean.  He expressed hope that the Logistics Agency (Bulog) would purchase more produce of the local farmers.

The local farmers who had planted crops during the October-November planting season last year are expected to harvest their crops during the April-May 2017 period. The paddy production is estimated to reach 500 thousand tons. Central Sulawesi has set a target of producing 1.3 million tons of dried paddy in 2017. 

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