REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BENGKULU -- The government of Bengkulu has expressed its readiness to become a center for the three food commodities of rice, corn and soybean by optimizing all means of production support, with the cooperation of the army.

"We have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a food security program with sub-regional military command, 041 Garuda Emas," Head of the Agriculture Agency of Bengkulu Evarini said here on Monday.

Bengkulu has become a food crop center, as projected by the central government, she added.

The MoU stipulates five points, which include the availability of improved seeds, improvements to be made in the irrigation system, distribution of fertilizers, and pest and disease control.

"The army will help to ensure that the distribution of fertilizers will be right on target, with the aim to increase the production of food crops," Evarini pointed out.

Bengkulu province will strive to turn a few districts into rice crop centers, such as Kaur district, South Bengkulu district, Seluma district, North Bengkulu district, Rejanglebong district, Lebong district and Muko-Muko district.

While corn crop centers will be developed in the 10 districts and municipalities with the highest production in 2014, including the districts of North Bengkulu, South Bengkulu and Lebong, soybean will be developed in South Bengkulu, Rejanglebong, Kaur, Seluma, Muko-muko and Lebong.

Furthermore, Indonesian President Joko Widodo is optimistic that the country can achieve food self-sufficiency in the next two to five years by increasing its agricultural output.

"I have discussed this with farmers who increased their yield from two to six tons and with others whose production rose from one and a half to three tons. We are beginning to see multiple results of increased agricultural production," he noted recently.

The president also stated that the increase in production reflects Indonesia's sound agricultural system, which can help the nation achieve the target of food self-sufficiency.

The agricultural system was established through cooperation, mentoring and the establishment of partnerships between the people and the government, Jokowi remarked.

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