Appointed As Acting Minister Of Agriculture, Arief Begins To Fix Problems In Productivity

Acting Minister of Agriculture Arief Prasetyo Adi (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - Acting Minister of Agriculture Arief Prasetyo Adi has begun to fix various aspects that can support the increase in production and welfare of farmers throughout Indonesia. This was done after he was given the task by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to oversee the ministry.

Arief said, one of the things that will be done is to build coordination with Perum Bulog as the party that will absorb the products of farmers.

So far, continued Arief, the agricultural sector is a strategic sector that has great potential for increasing competitiveness, both through downstreaming and the amount of production.

"One by one we will clean up, then Bulog and friends in Bulog must absorb domestically, but if the production is not high, Bulog should not enter first because. That's why our focus is on preparing CPP (government food reserves). This is where I need SOEs in the food sector such as Id Food," said Arief in an official statement, October 9.

According to Arief, currently there are several factors that affect the level of domestic production, including the long-lasting extreme weather of el nino and the threat of pests that must be controlled.

"I say that if there is production in one of the low-lying areas, it is not only the failure of one institution, but also because of climate change, it could be water, it could be due to pests and other disturbances," he said.

But for sure, Arief said coordination with the parties would be carried out massively throughout Indonesia. Including with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of PUPR.

"We will coordinate with Bulog, the Ministry of Trade so that the coordination rope can be shortened for us to manage together, including the availability of production and also the price of rice which is still increasing," he said.

Previously, Arief had just accompanied President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to do a major harvest in Sukamandi, Subang Regency, West Java. There, the President ensured that the current price of unhulled rice at the farmer level was in good condition, where their average selling price was around Rp. 7,000 per kilogram.

However, Jokowi said, the government will try to provide a fair price for the community as consumers.

"Farmers are happy that the price of grain is Rp. 73, 74, 75, how are the 76 farmers happy. If farmers are happy, this is what buyers don't like and we have to overcome it through absorption and increasing market supply," explained the President.