West Lombok, The Lombok Herald - West Nusa Tenggara Deputy Governor Indah Dhamayanti Putri emphasised the importance of protecting productive agricultural land amid rapid residential growth, particularly in West Lombok. She conveyed this message while attending the Simultaneous Corn Harvest for the First Quarter of 2026 in Batu Samban Hamlet, Lembar Selatan Village, West Lombok, on Thursday (08/01/2026).
The Deputy Governor requested that the district government tighten the implementation of the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) to limit land conversion, in order to maintain food self-sufficiency in West Nusa Tenggara.
"Population growth and the expansion of settlements are among the obstacles that we need to think about together in the future. This is especially true in West Lombok, Madam Deputy Regent, which is indeed one of the main choices for a number of residential development investors," said the Deputy Governor.
He hopes that the RTRW that has been approved by the central government can be implemented consistently. This is so that not too much productive land is reduced, especially in West Lombok.
In addition to land protection, the Deputy Governor also highlighted post-harvest challenges, particularly the marketing of corn during the peak harvest season.
‘What we need to think about when the harvest reaches its peak is where we will take the produce,’ he said.
He encouraged collaboration with the National Food Agency and Bulog to help absorb farmers' harvests, including direct sales to livestock entrepreneurs, so that farmers would not have difficulty marketing their products.
At the end of his speech, the Deputy Governor reminded the important role of agricultural extension workers in maintaining land sustainability through the proportional use of fertilisers.
‘To the extension officers present, continue to provide guidance on how to process and use fertilisers without excess. The aim is to ensure that the fertility of the land, particularly in West Lombok, is maintained,’ he said. (biroadpim/kominfotikntb).