Deputy Chairperson Of MPR Asks Regional Heads In NTB To Prosper For Fishermen And Farmers

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Rachmat Gobel, invites regional heads in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to build a food industry ecosystem so that agricultural, fishery, livestock and plantation production in the province will provide added value for farmers, fishermen and ranchers. to provide added value, maintain sustainability, and provide welfare to farmers, craftsmen, breeders, and fishermen," said the Deputy Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives Coordinator for Industry and Development (Korinbang) in a written statement in Jakarta, Saturday, February 4. when receiving a visit from the regent and deputy regent of Dompu, West Sumbawa, East Lombok, and West Lombok, accompanied by the Deputy Governor of NTB Sitti Rohmi Djalilah on February 3, 2022. In his presentation the deputy governor said that NTB had a food surplus, namely rice, garlic, shallots , chili, and beef. However, the surplus was not matched by the welfare of the farmers because the quality of the products was not as good then meet the standards and price factors that fall during the harvest season.

“So our people are poor, but the food is the most expensive in the world. This happened in a lobster producing village. They regularly eat lobster, because there is so much lobster production," said the Deputy Regent of East Lombok, Rumaksi SJ.

For this reason, the former Minister of Trade, Rachmat Gobel, invited the regional heads to build a food industry ecosystem. “As long as you are in power. Use power to build people's prosperity. With the existing powers, you can more easily realize your ideas and visions," he said. According to him, let farmers, fishermen, ranchers, and SMEs focus on production. Meanwhile, other things are the duty of the government and institutions that are intended to help them through regulations, policies, guidance, and authority. On that occasion Rachmat Gobel also invited the regional leaders to develop cooperatives to help with capital, equipment management, and off taker. "Especially with regard to animal husbandry, cooperatives can manage integrated farms. So don't take care of them separately. Everything must be in concept and on an industrial scale," he said. At that meeting the regional heads also complained that NTB had to go through Bali because it didn't have cold storage. They also conveyed the need to build road infrastructure, piers, dams, and reservoirs. They asked for help with excavators and bulldozer.