The Pariaman City Government has officially begun modernizing the agricultural sector through the inaugural planting of rice using modern agricultural technology, the Advanced Agriculture System (PM-AAS). This agenda took place on the land of the Kito Samolah Farmers Group, Sungai Pasak Village, East Pariaman District, and was attended directly by the Mayor of Pariaman, Yota Balad.
The implementation of PM-AAS technology is a strategic solution amid shrinking agricultural land in Pariaman City. Adopted from the agricultural region of Arkansas, United States, this method focuses on efficiency, mechanization, and precision through a high-density direct seeding system to optimize the utilization of increasingly limited land.
Mayor Yota Balad emphasized that this innovation is expected to significantly increase harvest productivity, targeting 9 to 10 tons per hectare. This concrete step is also targeted to become a national pilot project, attract the younger generation to farming, and strengthen regional food security in a sustainable manner.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Pariaman City Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries Department, Marlina Sepa, outlined the five main pillars of PM-AAS. These pillars include planting density, digital-based resource efficiency, mechanization, production intensification, and location-specific application. Unlike conventional methods, this system integrates superior seeds with a complete agricultural package, ranging from macro fertilizers to organic soil conditioners.
For the success of the program, the Pariaman Municipal Government is also building cross-sectoral collaboration, one of which is with the Department of Housing, Settlement, and Environment (Dinas Perkim LH) to process organic waste into supporting fertilizer. This synergy is expected to not only multiply crop yields but also cut production costs and preserve the local environment.
