Ganjar Encourages The Emergence Of A Win-win Solution Policy Between The Tobacco Ecosystem And The Health Side

Presidential Candidate number 3 Ganjar Pranowo in the first debate of the 2024 presidential election at the KPU Office, Jakarta, Tuesday 12 December 2023. (ANTARA-HO-Team Media Ganjar)

Presidential candidate (candidate) number 3, Ganjar Pranowo emphasized that farmers and the tobacco ecosystem must be protected.

Ganjar said that proportional policies are needed between the health side and indicators of the prevalence of smokers and the industrial and agrarian resilience side. According to him, the issue of tobacco policy and the industrial ecosystem must be fully reviewed in order to create a win-win solution

"In the upstream, tobacco farmers' production is now decreasing, while demand is getting bigger. For that, we are importing tobacco," said Ganjar after visiting a cigarette factory in Bantul, Yogyakarta, Tuesday.

Reflecting on this condition, Ganjar said that tobacco-related policy rails cannot be seen from one corner, such as only about health campaigns.

So far, globally there is a tobacco control convention or FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) which is commanded by WHO.

"But there are still many countries that have not ratified it," he explained.

He acknowledged that the global campaign had hit the domestic tobacco industry hard. In fact, tobacco is one of the leading commodities in Indonesia.

"We have high quality tobacco which costs millions, from Temanggung and other regions. This must also get protection," said Ganjar.

On the other hand, Ganjar also did not dismiss the excise tariff policy as an instrument for controlling the prevalence of smokers from a health point of view.

"After all, excise duty has increased, the industry remains good. However, it only needs to correct the amount of tariff, it does not even cause rampant illegal cigarettes," he said.

Strictly speaking, Ganjar, who is paired with Mahfud MD as Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidate number 3. This also reveals partiality to tobacco farmers.

"Later, we will review policies that can have a big impact on farmers, it should not be extreme," said Ganjar.

On the other hand, Ganjar concluded that the tobacco industry is one of the labor-intensive industries that has become the hanger of many villagers. What's more, there are many female workers behind tobacco production.

Not only that, he also appreciated the tobacco industry for also implementing an inclusive work environment. "Many factories employ people with disabilities, both women and men, they become empowered," he concluded.

The General Election Commission (KPU) of the Republic of Indonesia has received registrations for three presidential and vice-presidential candidates, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, and Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

The election campaign period is set from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024, while the voting is scheduled for February 14, 2024.