Through a collaboration between the government, private sector, and farmers, the agricultural program aims to improve the welfare of farmers.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government has continued to develop export-oriented horticultural areas to increase the exports of agricultural products, which are expected to encourage national and regional economic growth.

"I laud the attempts of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs to initiate this horticultural program," Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said while inaugurating the export-oriented harvest of Cavendish bananas in Ponorogo district, East Java, on Wednesday.

Indonesian people should be grateful for the abundant natural resources, especially the genetic diversity of bananas, he added.

Hence, Indonesian farmers should optimize the export opportunity of the commodity by increasing production quantity, quality, and continuity, he stated.

"Through a collaboration between the government, private sector, and farmers, the agricultural program aims to improve the welfare of farmers," secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso, informed in his report to the Vice President.

Various policies implemented by the government have helped improve the welfare of farmers.

This is evident from the increase in the Farmer's Exchange Rate (NTP) in February 2022, which reached 108.83 points, or rose 0.15 percent compared to the previous month, according to data on Statistics Indonesia’s (BPS’) official site.

In Ponorogo district, the provision of agricultural production facilities can cost Rp637 billion each year, thus collaboration is required to facilitate farmers’ businesses, such as cooperation between Village-Owned Joint Enterprises (BumdesMa) and private agricultural production facility supply chain provider PT Ananta Nadi Nusantara.

In addition, the export-oriented horticulture business can be developed through the Creating Shared Value (CSV) partnership scheme.

The scheme will be implemented in transmigration areas in collaboration with the Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Ministry to increase the community’s income.

"We hope that the inauguration of the harvest of Cavendish bananas carried out by the Vice President will be the milestone for the expansion of the commodity’s development area in Ponorogo district, as well as other regions,” the coordinating ministry’s secretary added.

Related news: Temanggung, Wonosobo models for horticultural food estates: minister
Related news: Agriculture Ministry to build 2,358 horticultural villages by 2022

Translator: Kuntum Riswan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022