Local Rice Supply Supports National Food Security

Kendari, Sept 26 (Antara) - The supply of local rice as a comestible commodity had supported the national food security programs, stated Rector of Halu Oleo University Usman Rianse. "The rice cultivated by the local farmers in Southeast Sulawesi is potentially contributing to the increase in national rice production and also helping to realize the national food security programs," he stated in Kendari on Friday. He stated that the opportune time has come to invite local farmers to cultivate high quality rice. This can address the problem of food scarcity, which can help in achieving food security and sustainable rice production. Rianse claimed that maintaining the supply of local rice can be achieved by developing certain rice varieties, which could optimize the use of dry land. Farmers` productivity would be higher and could be the solution to fulfilling the basic food requirements of the people. "For example, `gogo` is a kind of rice, which is quite tolerant to problematic soil conditions and is resistant to pests and diseases," he noted. He explained that the development of "gogo" rice was quite easy and efficient to raise the rice production in dry areas. It could also help to solve some constraints faced by the farmers. "The cultivation of high quality `gogo` rice is one of the efforts to support food security and rice sufficiency," he stated. He appealed to the farmers in Southeast Sulawesi to cultivate "gogo" rice as he believed that it was in accordance with the developing consumer tastes and global markets. "To face the global market, we should have high quality of agricultural products, especially rice," he proclaimed.