Agricom.id, JAKARTA – The epidemic of corona virus (Covid – 19) which hits many countries raises many issues too. Every country publishes the policy to fight for the spread of Covid-19.

One thing for example is the food availability to the people. It needs to fulfill for the people.

The academy and professor of Agriculture, Universitas Gajah Mada, (UGM), Prof. Masyhuri said that the it is better to give stimulus for the farmers when facing the situation like this so that they could trigger the production to prepare the food needs.

“It is not about anti-import. But it should prioritize the food availability from the domestic during the crisis of Covid – 19. It is no need to import while the domestic products are available,” he said, Wednesday (25/3/2020) as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

He thought that depending on the domestic agriculture capability and the stimulus support to the farmers could be one pillar of defense in Indonesia during the crisis.

“We could create the import substitution if the agriculture development in the villages is strengthened. The consistent agriculture development could strengthen the economy nationally,” he said.

He also mentioned that the guarantee of enough food from the government of Indonesia when the Covid – 19 attacks would make us independent from the imports.

To make sure the stocks and food price are good, Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo also took the producers and the suppliers last Friday.

Minister of agriculture, together with the producer and the supplier did the memorandum to fulfill 11 food commodities, they are, rice, corn, union, garlic, big red chili, cayenne paper, cow or buffalo meat, hen meat, egg, sugar, and cooking oil. (A2)