Agricom.id, JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) did commemorate the 48th Krida Day heading to the new normality. For the first time, the commemoration day was running by ceremony and involving the officers in ministry of agriculture from Sabang to Merauke.
“We have to thank the farmers who work seriously for to produce food, to give us enough food, the people of Indonesia,” he said when speaking in the virtual ceremony of the 48th Krida Day in Agriculture War Room (AWR), Ministry of Agriculture, Jakarta, Tuesday (23/6/2020), as in the official written statement to Agricom.id.
He keeps supporting the people and the farmers to be optimist in the agriculture. This is important so that they realize that the food should not stop producing. The corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic that hits many countries impacts to the health sector and the social – economy of the people.
The social – economic of the people has something to do with the food security. It is the obligation to increase the production to face the new normality. The government is here to increase the production nationally in the people’s agriculture – base and the partisanship program for them should be strengthened.
“Food is the prior for the country. 267 million men would need food. Others are important but the food is the main one. If there is no food, nothing to do namely in the pandemic,” he said.
Facing the Covid-19 pandemic, ministry of agriculture re-allocated the budget to the seed helps, employment, stock stability, food price, distribution, and food transportation. The government prepared the help schemes for the farmers both in kredit usaha rakyat (KUR) and agriculture insurance.
The productivity of some strategic commodities is in good progress. The rice stocks are good, and to anticipate the dry season, his side encouraged the farmers to accelerate the paddy planting for about 5,6 million hectares in the second planting in 33 provinces.
“I want that the spirit should be the moment to substitute the traditional agriculture to be modern one. The innovation and technology should be the indicators. He thought the agriculture should not run in the old – fashion ways but should be modern, going forward, and more independent,” he said.
Besides the technology and innovation should be more to do to increase the productivity, involve the young generations and start-up companies, efficient workers, expand the markets, and get better exports.
“The agriculture is not about project and budget but about religious and humanity, defending the nation. I hope that in the 48th Krida day, the spirit would raise in the officers of ministry of agriculture,” SYL said. (A2)
