REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MEDAN -- The province of North Sumatra is set to continue to boost its rice production after hitting a record high in 11 years at 4.61 million tons in 2016.

"The production in 2016 was the highest in 11 years or an increase of 565,268 tons from the previous years," North Sumatra governor HT Erry Nuradi said here on Monday.

With that production, North Sumatra has a rice surplus of 1,171,350 tons enough to cover its consumption for 7 months.

The governor attributed the increase in production partly to good harvest in the regency of Padanglawas.

He said the provincial administration would offer aid in the form of seed and farming tools for farmers such as in Padanglawas to sustain the trend in rice production in North Sumatra.

He said the provincial administration already taken a number of steps to support and sustain food self sufficiency in the region. Among the steps include earlier planting season, increase in planting index , provision of seeds , fertilizers and pesticides and farming tools.

The government has also improved irrigation systems, adoption of modern farming system and expansion of farmlands utilizing idle lands.

The North Sumatra provincial administration has allocated a budget of Rp169 billion for the food crop and horticulture service for 2017.

The regency of Padang Lawas alone had a budget of Rp6.164 billion.

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