Ministry Of Agriculture Allocates IDR 33.4 Billion To Restore West Sumatra Agriculture Swept Away By Flash Floods

Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman (right) while reviewing the condition of agricultural land damaged by the disaster in West Sumatra. (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture has allocated assistance of Rp33.34 billion to restore the agricultural sector after the flood and flash flood disaster in West Sumatra.

"God willing, we will send aid for agriculture in West Sumatra to be rehabilitated again. So, assistance for West Sumatra, including for Agam Regency, is around Rp. 33.34 billion," said Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman in Padang, Saturday.

He said this after directly observing the victims of floods and flash floods as well as the condition of the affected agricultural land in Agam Regency.

The Minister of Agriculture detailed that the assistance allocated was from the Directorate General of Food Crops of around Rp. 20 billion, the Directorate General of Horticulture Rp. 7.4 billion, and the Directorate General of Infrastructure and Agricultural Facilities Rp. 5.6 billion.

The assistance, he said, was in the form of seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural machinery to restore agricultural land that was badly damaged by the disaster.

"Farming is the heart of the nation's future which needs mutual attention both at the central and regional levels. We want a number of locations affected by the disaster to recover and produce as usual," he said as reported by Antara.

The Minister of Agriculture said he should have flown to China for a bilateral meeting with the Chinese Minister of Agriculture. However, as soon as he heard the news of floods and landslides in West Sumatra, his departure to China was postponed.

"Actually I have to go to China, but heard the news that West Sumatra was hit by a disaster, including agriculture, so I postponed it to China. God willing, in the near future, maybe at the latest next month, the budget will be down for West Sumatra. Then we will give agricultural machine equipment later, maybe around Rp. 15-20 billion. But what is certain is that for the rice fields we have budgeted Rp. 10 billion," he said.

So far, said the Minister of Agriculture, his party has received a report on how much land area must be repaired and how much will be rehabilitated. Therefore, he asked for the support of all parties, including the local government and farmer groups to return to production. "We have received reports such as 450 hectares of puso, then 1,600 hectares of damaged plants. So about two thousand hectares, then there is also something that we must rehabilitate. Everything is our concern," he said.

The Minister of Agriculture added that all requested assistance must be sent immediately so that agriculture returns to normal. Do not let production go down because the repair budget has not been distributed.

"I ask that the budget be shifted to West Sumatra immediately. These are our brothers who have been affected by the disaster, need special attention, need assistance as soon as possible," he said.