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Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo. (HO/Agriculture Ministry) - 

Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has encouraged Jeneponto Regency in South Sulawesi Province to become a center for quality agriculture and animal husbandry to fulfill the nation’s food requirements.

"I would like to urge all villages in Jeneponto to have an agricultural area that can produce twice as much. I also call on the ranks at the Agriculture Ministry to facilitate all agricultural development processes in this area to become the agricultural and livestock sector, so that they can meet domestic and export food requirements," Minister Limpo noted in a statement received here on Saturday.

Limpo attended an integrated livestock service activity under the State Mainstay Buffalo Cattle Priority Program (Sikomandan) in Bontomanai Village of Rumbia District in Jeneponto Regency of South Sulawesi Province.

The minister has monitored the developments on cattle and buffalo that are ready for sale and have above average weight. Hence, he said the government will encourage the regency to become a quality livestock center.

The minister will also provide assistance for the development of coffee and banana plantations and care and management of foals and buffalo calves to meet the national market.

"The ministry will also encourage the cultivation of coffee and banana as well as the care and management of foals and buffalo calves in Jeneponto. I see that today, Jeneponto is getting better and has shown a good trend. Hence, rice plantations are handled well as well as for corn, vegetables, and fruits," he pointed out.

The minister expects Jeneponto’s farmers and breeders to utilize the People's Business Credit (KUR) fund for agriculture as capital to run a better farming business.

"Agriculture in this area is already good, with the main activity being farming, but in addition, the community also raises livestock. In future, we will strive to encourage the plantation sector. It means that if we develop banana plantations of up to 10 thousand trees, for instance, then there must be people, who can process it into banana chips and for the flour industry. Hence, use the KUR funds. God willing, hopefully, the farmers would be more successful, have their own feed and slaughterhouse (RPH), and their own production," the minister remarked//ANT