NTB joins forces with TNI
to grow soybean

The Jakarta Post, Mataram | Archipelago | Fri, May 02 2014, 6:42 AM

In an effort to boost soybean production in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) this year, the provincial administration, through the NTB Agriculture, Horticultural and Food Crops Agency, has implemented a simultaneous-soybean planting program in eight regencies across the province together with the Army (TNI).

According to agency head Husni Fahri, the program, which was launched in Sekotong district, West Lombok, kicked off with the planting of Anjasmoro and other superior soybean varieties on a 500-hectare plot of land.

“Later, members from the Mataram Military Command [Kodim] will provide assistance to farmers and soybean farming communities from the planting period until the harvest season. Around 100 Army personnel will be involved in the program,” said Husni.

He added that NTB was currently third in terms of soybean production nationally, after West Java and Central Java. Thanks to the high yields, the Agriculture Ministry will also push NTB to become a soybean seedling center.

In 2013, with a potential 25,000 hectares of arable land for soybeans with up to 1.2 tons per hectare, NTB was able to produce more than 97,000 ton of soybeans.

“This year, our target is 135,000 ton of soybeans,” said Husni.

Sumber: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/02/ntb-joins-forces-with-tni-grow-soybean.html