The Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo, and the Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, Teten Masduki, have signed a cooperation agreement to develop livestock and agriculture through cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The joint agreement aims to accelerate the growth and development of livestock businesses and downstream livestock products through cooperatives and SMEs in the field of animal husbandry. The agreement highlights the importance of cooperatives in the agricultural sector, as they can help farmers access new technologies to improve the quality and quantity of their products, as well as develop sustainable and efficient distribution channels that can increase their income and living standards.
Both ministers stressed the significance of this agreement and how it represents a commitment to improving the welfare of Indonesian society, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministers also noted that the collaboration between the two ministries is not new, given that many agricultural workers are micro and small business owners. However, they also recognized that the sector still faces many challenges, including the fact that 90% of poultry farmers in Indonesia are individual or small-scale operators, making it difficult to compete with larger corporations. The ministers hope that through this partnership, they can consolidate small-scale individual farmers with cooperatives to improve the economy's scale and help farmers access new markets and technologies.
