GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO MECHANIZE AGRICULTURE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 24 (Antara) - Agriculture is one of the main sectors of Indonesian economy, which is why the government continues to advance this sector through a mechanization program and through the provision of agricultural equipment and machinery assistance to farmers.         In order to optimize the utilization of the Agricultural Equipment and Machinery (Alsintan) to further mechanize the agricultural sector, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman recently (Nov 12) appointed Andi Nur Alam Syah as the director of Alsintan Affairs.         Sulaiman assigned Alamsyah to implement the program and to improve the ministry's performance to realize modern agricultural development and to improve the prosperity of farmers.          "I asked the Alsintan Director to optimize the distribution of agricultural equipment and machinery, especially for swamp lands," the minister stated.           Alamsyah, in his response, confirmed that the main area of emphasis was to optimize the use of agriculture machinery.

AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS DEEMED SUCCESSFUL IN 2016

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 31 (Antara) - One of the aims of the government's programs in 2016 was to advance the agricultural sector, in order to regain the country's self-sufficiency in rice, as in the past.         Due to its efforts to introduce mechanized agricultural technology, repair damaged agricultural infrastructure, and open new rice fields, the government has been able to change the country's rice planting season from one to two, and even three times, per year.         With its success in carrying out these programs in 2016, the government increased unhusked rice production to 79 million tons, exceeding its target of 76 million tons of unhusked rice, and stop importing rice in 2016.          "Indonesia will not need to import rice, and it could even export the commodity to other countries, " Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Thursday in the village of Bhakti Rasa, Sragi subdistrict, South Lampung, on Thursday (Dec 29).           National production of unhulled rice rose to 79 million tons in 2016, from 74 million tons of unhulled rice  in 2015 and 70 million tons in 2014.

INDONESIA'S AGRICULTURE HAS BETTER PROSPECTS IN 2017

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 17 (Antara) - The El Nino weather phenomenon that struck Indonesia in 2015, bringing droughts and wide-spread forest and land fires, caused a reduction in the country's agriculture production.          Yet, the other weather phenomenon, the La Nina, took its turn in 2016 by bringing fortunes, as Indonesian agricultural production increased again, compared to 2015. This upward trend in agricultural products is expected to continue, and increase further, in 2017.          "In 2017, the agricultural subsystem and agribusiness will be better than in 2016, regardless of questions on who will be enjoying the benefits," said Bungaran Saragih, a former minister of agriculture during the administration of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, speaking during a seminar on the outlook for agribusiness in 2017 in Jakarta on Thursday.         Over the past several months, there have been signs of a global economic revival.         According to many experts, who are also supported by Bungaran, world economic growth will increase again in 2017, though the rise has yet to reach its peak. In 2017, the world economy is expected to begin escaping the worsening economic conditions.

INDONESIA SHOULD PROTECT ITS AGRICULTURE SECTOR

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 9 (Antara) - With some 60-70 percent of its 240 million population hailing from the farming community, Indonesia needs to protect its agricultural sector to free itself from the influx of imported agricultural products and strengthen food resilience.          In an effort to advance Indonesia's agricultural sector, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the development of the country's agricultural and plantation sectors.          "The government is determined to improve the welfare of the people, particularly farmers, who work in the plantation and agricultural sectors," noted President Jokowi.          In the first six months of Jokowi's administration, the government claimed to have been able to successfully expand the country's rice fields by 700 hectares.          "We were evaluating our work during the October 2014-March 2015 period, and we found that we have been able to expand agricultural land by 700 hectares. God willing, it can produce an additional harvest of three million tons," Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman revealed after attending the meeting with the president.

INDONESIA BOOSTING ITS FOOD CROP DEVELOPMENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 8 (Antara) - Indonesia is giving a priority to agriculture development, particularly the food crop sector, in efforts to improve the welfare of farmers, meet domestic needs, remove dependence on imports, and compete in ASEAN Economic Community.          To achieve the goals, the government this year has set a fund of Rp22 trillion in its state budget to finance its agriculture development such as improving the irrigation system and providing farmers with agricultural tools.          Farmers will be assisted with various production facilities such as hand tractors and harvesting machines to increase the productivity their rice fields from the current approximate 5 tons per hectare to hopefully about 9 to 10 tons.          The government will also re-frame the cycles of country's crop planting and harvest seasons to avoid simultaneous and overlapping harvest times. Thus, food crop prices for farmers could consistently be maintained at favorable levels.