President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) laid emphasis on the need to maintain positive growth in the agriculture sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to boost the welfare of farmers and fishermen. During a virtual meeting on farmers’ corporation at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Tuesday, Jokowi called to sustain the momentum in growth in the agriculture sector for improving the welfare of farmers and fishermen.
According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), agriculture sector had recorded a growth of 16.24 percent quarter-to-quarter (q-to-q) during the second quarter of 2020, while the other sectors had experienced a contraction owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sector has registered a 2.19-percent growth year-on-year (y-o-y).”We must maintain the positive growth momentum in the agriculture sector. Thus, it would have a significant impact on the welfare of farmers and fishermen," Jokowi affirmed.
"I want to remind that amid this pandemic, the agriculture sector has recorded the highest contribution to bolstering the flagging national economy," he pointed out. Jokowi also urged related ministries and institutions to create a business model for enhancing the economic capacity of farmers. With an increase in the economic capacity, farmers would be able to have access to funding and information technology in addition to adequate working capital to strengthen marketing.
"This is about organizing farmers and fishermen to improve their living standards, and of course, now to materialize economic transformation," he stated. The president has urged ministries and a state-run and regional-owned company to assist farmers in building a larger scale of agriculture business that covers production to post-harvesting business. Related news: Indonesia's food estate in Humbang Hasundutan started this year
