Agricom.id, JAKARTA – The former Minister of Agriculture (2000-2004), Bungaran Saragih did appreciate Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo’s long term program to develop the better, more independent, and modern agriculture. Saragih thought that Minister Syahrul has the good base to develop the agriculture in the future to help the economy in our country sustainably.

“I think that in the next 10 to 15 years, agri-business would be the pillar of our economy. It could be the source of progress, exchange, and employment,” Saragih said, Sunday (15/11/2020).

For information, Ministry of Agriculture Indonesian Republic (Ministry of Agriculture) keeps developing the modern agriculture through sophisticated technology and mechanism. The system is supported by agriculture war room (AWR) and komando strategi pembangunan pertanian (Kostratani). AWR has devices to monitor the real data which connect to artificial intelligent devices that communicate with the counselors and farmers in Indonesia.

Saragih also urged that every side should support and encourage the agricultural progress in Indonesia together. He hoped that the agriculture would not be always the work of Ministry of Agriculture, but should be part of other related ministries and institutions.

“Everybody should notice the agriculture together as an agri-business system. I do hope that Ministry of Agriculture keeps cooperating with the farmers and other business. But on the other hand, the coordination among other ministries and institution should be in synergy,” he said, as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

Saragih also told that if the coordination and support run well, it is possible that agriculture in Indonesia would be the source of export and food needs in international markets.

“In the crisis like now, our agriculture saves our nation. Furthermore Covid-19 does not bother the agriculture so much because it is in the rural not urban,” he said.

Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo some time ago confessed to be optimist by the good progress of advance technology. Modernization is ready to operate in 4.0 agriculture. The machine and devices are massively used in each production system.

“I do believe that our preparedness would take the agriculture into the better mechanism in phase,” he said.

To support the agricultural development implementation, Minister Syahrul hoped that in the future, many side would support it. In this case, it needs cooperation from many sectors to accelerate the agriculture mechanism implementation.

“Whatever it takes, agriculture is the pillar of economy and to accelerate it, we need better mechanism,” he said.

He also mentioned that Balai Besar Pengembangan Mekanisasi Pertanian Pertanian (BBP Mektan) has ability to create the sophisticated and modern machine prototype but should prioritize the local potential.

“The agency is needed to know a progress, challenges, and the progressive era namely to intervene the mechanism to make effective acceleration in agriculture,” he said.

For information, BBP Mektan revitalized the devices and tools in Engineering and Design Laboratory in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) – base to balance the world agricultural tool industrial development. Besides, tester laboratory in BBP Mektan has the facilitation in four vehicle – tractor laboratory (within capacity up to 200 horse power (hp)), two vehicle – tractor, water pump irrigation (up to 10 inches diameter pump), sprayer, and post-harvest agricultural tool laboratory.

The numbers of agricultural tools which have been tested in the last three years covered 286 units in 2018, 325 units in 2019, and in January - November 2020 reaching 233 units. (A2)