Planning of Agriculture Based on Food Commodities Featured In Supporting Food Security In North Tapanuli Region of North Sumatera Province

Abstract

Food security is an important issue at this time, because food is a basic need of every person, efforts to meet the food needs of the main target of government policy. One of the measures achieve food self-sufficiency is increasing production in a sustainable manner. Development of superior food commodities is a way to spur economic growth while sustaining food security in the region. This study examines the planning of seed-based agricultural food commodities in support of food security in North Tapanuli, with research methods Location Quotient (LQ) using commodity crops productivity data in the form of secondary data from 2005 to 2010. The study concluded; a) commodity flagship food in North Tapanuli consists of four types, namely commodity paddy rice, upland rice, corn and peanuts, b) food security is affected by the increased productivity that consistently available at affordable prices. Through research suggested; a) the government of North Tapanuli make efforts to increase productivity focus on superior food commodities; through intensification and extension programs supported improved farming technology, infrastructure development; irrigation, extension services and the provision of means of production, improvement of cultivation and post-harvest technologies, b) the government of North Tapanuli conduct various training to agricultural extension workers and farmers themselves.