REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANJARMASIN -- South Kalimantan is expected to maintain surplus in rice production this year despite the lengthy drought that has caused harvest failure in a number of areas in the country.

Chairman of the Commission II of provincial legislative assembly Muharram said the weather phenomenon El Nino has caused irrigation problem leaving rice fields without water in some areas South Kalimantan but the province is still expected to have surplus.

"Indeed El Nino has caused a decline in rice production, but we are optimistic that we would still have surplus," he said here on Thursday.

El Nino has caused great concern in the country although the authorities tried to convince the people that the government has taken steps to cope with the impact.

Muharram, who is chairman of a local association of farmers and fishermen (KTNA), said swampy lowlands in the province could still be grown with rice despite the drought.

The province has wide swamp areas that have never been without water dried and they are potential area for rice cultivation, he added.

He said El Nino had hit South Kalimantan not only this time but it has continued to have rice surplus thanks ti its wide swampy land.

Therefore, there is no reason for too much concern about the impact of El Nino in the province, he said.

Crop failure has been reported in a number of areas in the country forcing the government to consider rice imports.

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