President Jokowi Encourages Farmers to Focus on Agribusiness Process

President Jokowi discusses with Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung on a the sidelines of a limited meeting on Tuesday (12/9), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta

Over the years, efforts to improve farmers’ prosperities or Farmer’s Exchange Point (NTP) have always been focused on on-farm and farming sectors, rather than the business process; in fact, huge added values are in the agribusiness processes, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“We should change the paradigm. We cannot be too focused only on farming sector and other sectors related to fertilizers, seeds, and insecticides,” President Jokowi said in his introductory remarks during a Limited Meeting on “Coorporating the Farmers” at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Tuesday (12/9).

Nevertheless, President Jokowi acknowledged that agricultural cultivation sector is something fundamental so the paradigm must be changed if the greatest benefits are to be gained. “We (the Government) should be included in the business and agribusiness processes,” the President firmly said.

Once the paradigm has been changed, President Jokowi said that farmers can own seed business and various modern production applications which do not cost much these days.“They must have their own modern grinding machine. It would not cost much if they get assistance from banks,” the President added.

“If the calculation declared to be feasible and bankable, banks can support farmers. This is what we want,” the President stated.

Moreover, the President also hopes farmers can have their own processing industries, seed industries, production applications, modern grinding machines, modern packaging, and postharvest handling industries.

“Business and agribusiness processes will bring huge added values,” the President said.

Therefore, on that occasion, President Jokowi invited the participants to encourage the farmers to be united in one big farmer organization and to think in modern management manner, as well as to use modern applications, consider modern processing industries, and establish online and offline stores to market the products to the retail industries and people through a good management. “I think that processes will benefit the farmers,” the President firmly said.

Also attending the Limited Meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/Head of National Land Agency (BPN) Sofyan Djalil, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, Minister of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises AAGN Puspayoga, Financial Services Authority (OJK) Chairman Wimboh Santoso, National Logistics Agency (Bulog) President Director Djarot Kusumayakti, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) President Director Suprajarto, West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, East Java Governor Soekarwo, and Banten Governor Wahidi Halim.(FID/SM/JAY/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)