Agricom,id, JAKARTA – Agriculture observer who is also as the Daily Chairman of DPD Himpunan Kerukunan Tani Indonesia (HKTI), West Java, Entang Sastraatmaja was disappointed because the government cut off the budget in ministry of agriculture up to Rp 3,6 billion. The budget could be used to provide the daily needs during the emergency situation in the pandemic of corona virus (Covid-19).

"The agriculture sector should actually have different perspective to the other infrastructure sectors. If it could, there should be extra budget to protect and defend the farmers who always work in the pandemic of Covid-19,” he said, Friday (17/4//2020), as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

He also mentioned that the government should be selective to cut off the budget because it could make uncontrolled situation. The people really need food now.

In this difficult situation like this, if the budget cut should be done, it needs to be wise. The government should select the ministries, or institutions to cut or not cut the budget.

When the pandemic is over, Indonesia would not have the new crisis, that is, the food because it could disturb the economy in this country to be worse. It is important to balance between the social and economic demands.

“If the budget in ministry of agriculture should be significantly cut off, it is afraid, the food security would happen and make the chaos in this nation, and in the circumstances,” he said.

It could happen that the budget cut may have something to do with political will for some certain groups. Entang thought, this should not happen for the continuity of food.

“We need to remember that food issue is easily controlled by the political interests. Never play game with the food, namely the budget cut itself,” he mentioned.

For information, the ministry of agriculture claimed to be able to guarantee thee food needs until the next four months. It means that heading to Ramadhan and Idul Fitri the 11 daily needs would be in control.

“Just in case, the budget for the ministry of agriculture should not be minim or like the tire. It needs maximal budget to answer the situation in the pandemic,” Entang ended.

(A2)