Increasing rice production: A proposed strategy during and after Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

The covid-19 pandemic has many impacts on human live. One of them is a disruption of food supply and distribution from the centre production to intermediate and end users. Whereas the assurance of sufficient rice as a staple food at household, local, regional and national levels, is very crucial. One of strategies to increase national rice production in the current situation is trough intensification. This study was conducted based on National Statistical Bureau's data of production and rice planting in year 2000. Data were analyzed statistically and classified all production areas (administrative basis) into high or low category. The analysis showed that there were six provinces in category high productivity including Jakarta; with Bali as the highest productivity of 60.78 kw/ha. Meanwhile 28 other provinces in low productivity with Babel as the lowest of 28.56 kw/ha. Furthermore, there were 239 districts in category of low production and 210 in high production. Accordingly, the intensification should focus on the low cluster production areas. Adjustment of government budget as a stimulus for rice production during and after covid-19 should reoriented as a special treatment and does not depend on National Deliberation of Agricultural Development Plan (Musrenbang).