I see several large program schemes that can be utilized to help farmers and fishermen during this pandemicJakarta (ANTARA) - Some 3.8 million farmers and fishermen should be listed in the social safety net program, according to President Joko Widodo.
"I see several large program schemes that can be utilized to help farmers and fishermen during this pandemic. First, through the social safety net program, 2.7 (million) poor farmers and farm laborers and one million fishermen and fish farmers should be included in the social assistance that we provide," President Widodo stated at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday.
President Widodo delivered the statement during a limited meeting themed, "Intensive Meeting for Farmers and Fishermen in the Context of Safeguarding the Availability of Staples," with attendees comprising Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and the ministers of the Advanced Indonesian Cabinet.
"The programs are the Family Hope Program (PKH), cash social assistance, direct cash assistance (BLT), food packages, and electricity subsidy programs," the president noted.
The social safety net program is launched by the government to help the community since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic amounts to Rp110 trillion.
"The main purpose of this program scheme is to ease the burden of household consumption costs on underprivileged families, including poor farmers and fishermen," the president stated.
Other assistance for poor farmers and fishermen is through the subsidy program of loan interest, with a total value of Rp34 trillion, to relax installment payments and provide loan interest subsidies.
"This is channeled through the micro credit program (KUR), the Prosperous Family Economic Development (Mekaar) program, Ultra Micro Financing (UMI), Pegadaian, and through other finance companies," the president stated.
The president remarked that several bodies, such as the Institute for Maritime and Fisheries Business Capital Management (LPMUKP), Prospective Farmers and Prospective Locations (CPCL) and others, both in the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture, can handle the delay in installments and subsidies to the beneficiaries of capital assistance.
The government-launched social safety net program worth Rp110 trillion is first, the Family of Hope Program (PKH) targets 10 million beneficiaries, with varying benefits in accordance with the qualifications of the recipients; both basic food programs for 20 million Beneficiary Families (KPM), with a value of Rp200 thousand per KPM.
Third, is basic food assistance for the Greater Jakarta area, with a target of 1.9 million households, and Rp600 thousand for each family for three months launched since April 20, 2020; while fourth is direct cash assistance (BLT) for nine million households outside Greater Jakarta.
Fifth, the Pre-Employment Card, under the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, is aimed at 5.6 million recipients, with a total budget of Rp20 trillion given during the April-December 2020 period; sixth is electricity assistance, which is free electricity for 450-VA customers and 50-percent discount for electricity usage for 900-VA customers during the April-June 2020 period.
Seventh is in the form of direct cash Assistance (BLT) sourced from village funds under the Ministry of Villages for 12.3 million households, with Rp600 thousand per month per family for the April-June 2020 period.
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Reporter: Desca L, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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