Jokowi Asks Farmers And Fishermen To Get Encouragement To Maintain The Supply Of Staples

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Twitter @jokowi)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has requested that farmers and fishermen be assured of incentives to maintain supplies of staples in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak. He said that currently, there are a number of program schemes that can be an encouragement for farmers and fishermen to continue working.

"First, through the social safety net program. Ensure that 2.7 million poor farmers and farm laborers, as well as 1 million fishermen and fish farmers, must be included in the social assistance we provide," Jokowi said in a limited cabinet meeting regarding incentives for farmers and fishermen. in order to maintain the availability of basic commodities, Thursday, May 28.

The social safety net program in question is the Family Hope Program (PKH), cash social assistance, village fund Direct Cash Assistance (BLT), food packages, and electricity subsidy programs. It is hoped that the program can ease the burden on households, especially for farmers and fishermen who are affected by this pagebluk.

The next program is credit interest subsidy. The former governor of DKI Jakarta said that the government has prepared a program of IDR 3.4 trillion to make this program a success.

The budget will later be used to relax installment payments and provide loan interest subsidies channeled through People's Business Credit (KUR), Mekaar, UMi, pawnshops, and other financing companies.

Photo of Syamsul Maarif / VOI

Then, Jokowi also mentioned providing a stimulus for working capital. According to him, this is very important for farming and fisheries. As for the distribution, it depends on the conditions of the farmers and fishermen in the field.

"For farmers and fishermen whose distribution is bankable through the expansion of the KUR program, the distribution can be made through UMi, Mekaar, and other schemes through the ministry," he said while ordering his ministers to make a simpler procedure.

"So, our farmers and ranchers can get the funds needed," he said.

Finally, before completing his introduction, Jokowi also asked his ranks of ministers to provide non-fiscal assistance primarily to smooth the supply chain. "We hope that agriculture and fisheries can improve through the availability of seeds and fertilizers," he concluded.