Agricom.id, JAKARTA – Central bureau of statistic (CBS) noted that the agricultural exports in August 2020 were about 1,04 percent (Y on Y). It was the good numbers because other sectors significantly decreased.

Head of CBS, Kecuk Suhariyanto mentioned that the decreasing exports were in oil and gas sectors reaching minus 27, 45 percent, the processing industries reaching 4,52 percent, and the mining sector reaching minus 24,78 percent.

"Non – oil and gas exports had 95,32 percent of the total exports in August 2020," he said, Tuesday (15/9/2020) as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

In cumulative, non-oil and gas exports in August 2020 were to China reaching US$2,46 billion, then the United States of America reaching US$1,62 billion, and Japan reaching US$0,98 billion. The three countries contributed 40,68 percent while the exports to European Union reached US$1,02 billion.

He also mentioned that the trade balance of Indonesia in the same period was surplus reaching USD 2,33 billion. The numbers were from the exports reaching USD13,07 billion nationally. The numbers were better than those in imports which reached USD 10,74 billion.

"But the numbers were bigger than those in August 2019 which was surplus for about USD 92,6 million he said.

He continued that the surplus trend would have impacts to the exports nationally and the economy of Indonesia could significantly increase and back to normal again.

“We do hope that our exports could be better and we could have normal economy again,” he said.

The stable non-oil and gas exports, the increasing trade balance would be better to the workers’ salary in agriculture. CBS noted that the salary of the agriculture workers in August 2020 reached 0,12 percent or to be Rp 55.677 compared to July 2020 which was Rp 55.613, while the real salary in the same period increased 0,40 percent.

He thought that the real salary of the agriculture workers is the comparison between the numbers of their salary and consumption index of the housing in the village; while the real salary of the building workers is the comparison of their salary and the consumer index price in the city.

“The real salary increased 0,4% to be Rp 52.759 which was Rp 52.549," he said.

Knowing this, Head of Public and Relation, Ministry of Agriculture, Kuntoro Boga Andri said that the agriculture of Indonesia would keep producing though the pandemic still hits. He thought that the agriculture could not stop producing because it could be the factor to increase the economy nationally.

“In the Covid-19 pandemic, the agriculture still develops positively and could be the actor of economy nationally,” he said. (A2)