JAKARTA - Member of Commission IV of the DPR, Usman Husin, fully supports President Prabowo Subianto's instruction to build a cold storage warehouse in the Fishing Village program. He assessed this policy as a real step by the government to boost the welfare of coastal communities throughout Indonesia.
However, Usman reminded that this strategic project must be closely monitored from upstream to downstream. He emphasized that the expansion of these facilities must be transparent in order to avoid corruption or misdirection.
"We welcome President Prabowo's instruction to build cold storage for fishermen. This is part of the government program that must receive joint support," Usman told reporters, Wednesday, May 30.
"We assess that this is proof of the President's support for Indonesian fishermen. We hope that this program will be implemented immediately in all corners of Indonesia. However, we also ask that the development process be closely monitored so that there are no irregularities," he continued.
According to Usman, the classic problem of domestic fishermen until now is the decline in the quality and price of fish due to the lack of adequate preservation tools after the sea. He claims that a uniform cooling facility is able to break the chain of losses and improve the fishermen's bargaining position in front of the middlemen.
"Just imagine, fishermen have been out at sea with great difficulty to get fish, but the catch cannot last long because they do not have adequate refrigeration space. In fact, if there is a good refrigeration facility, the fish catch can be stored for longer, the quality is maintained, and the economic value is also increased so that it has an impact on the welfare of fishermen," he said.
Referring to national data, Usman said, the private sector currently still dominates ownership of cold storage with 1,882 units (capacity 795,653 tons). This figure is far from the ownership of the central and regional governments which are only available 228 units with a mini capacity of 18,313 tons.
"The number of cold storage currently in existence certainly needs to be improved and expanded. Indonesia is a maritime country with very large marine resources. This extraordinary potential must be managed to the maximum to really provide benefits for the welfare of fishermen and national food security," he concluded.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto highlighted the condition of fishermen in Indonesia who had difficulty getting ice cubes to solar. He promised to solve the problem.
Prabowo made the statement at a plenary meeting at the DPR RI Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, May 20.
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