Jakarta – Commission IV of the Indonesian Parliament this afternoon held a working meeting (Raker) with the Minister of Agriculture (Minister of Agriculture) Syahrul Yasin Limpo to discuss economic recovery in farmers affected by the Corona virus (COVID-19).
Besides discussing this matter, Syahrul will also explain the development of the Ministry of Agriculture’s strategic program to increase agricultural production.This afternoon’s meeting was opened by the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Commission IV Sudin from the PDIP faction. The meeting was scheduled for 10:00 WIB, but it only began at 10:30 WIB. In this afternoon’s meeting, Syahrul was present along with the echelons of the Ministry of Agriculture.In opening the meeting, Sudin asked Syahrul to encourage seed assistance to farmers to increase national productivity.
Related to food security, it is necessary to increase maximum production. Therefore, before thinking about exports, first focus on efforts to increase food productivity. Thus optimizing food production becomes very important. Because only by increasing national production, our food security becomes stronger.
“The ministry’s support to obtain superior seeds is highly expected. Commission IV hopes that the strategic function of the Agricultural Research and Development Agency is really well implemented. We hear a lot of findings from Balitbangtan seeds, but the production is not fully utilized by farmers,” Sudin said in the Building Indonesian Parliament, Jakarta, Tuesday (07/07/2020).
According to Sudin, through the Agricultural Research and Development Agency (Balitbangtan), the Ministry of Agriculture should be able to innovate agricultural seeds that can boost productivity.
“Research by Balitbangtan should be oriented to the needs of farmers and other users, not to the credit agenda,” said Sudin.Unfortunately, according to Sudin, the innovation was not visible. For example, I seed Inbred Rice Irrigation (Inpari) which since the New Order era until now there has been no innovation.
“Because we see that the Director General of Food Crops still buys seedlings from entrepreneurs. Why isn’t it being propagated by R&D?” he said.” As far as I know, Inpari was from the New Order era. Why is there now no reformation at all. There is no innovation anymore. This is the most important note,” he continued.