"In a province, it is feasible, and banks certainly will finance. We would attempt this, and it is supported by low bank interest and also the down payment assistance, which we subsidize. We are going to formulate this," President Jokowi remarked during the launch of a mango-based granary and the taksi alsintan program in Gresik, East Java, on Monday.
According to the head of state, the taksi alsintan program will make it easier for farmers to use modern agricultural tools and machinery, such as the Rice Milling Unit (RMU), dryer, combine harvester, or tractor.
The president explained that under the program, farmers can rent modern agricultural tools from business actors or stores.
"(The stores like) UD Pesanggrahan, UD Dwi Putra Raya, and others, have the machines and (can be) rented to farmers," he remarked.
Furthermore, Jokowi stated that with adequate farm machinery, the risk of food loss during the production stage can be reduced.
He emphasized that all farmers should be able to avail the benefits of modernized farming tools, so that production can increase, and they can also reap the benefits.
"Food loss from every production can be suppressed because our food loss is still very high, at 12-13 percent. The use of this combine harvester can reduce (food loss) by six to seven percent," he explained.
He called to forgo the agricultural tool procurement process that relies on the old scheme, such as depending only on the Agriculture Ministry.
Hence, the Agriculture Ministry initiated the taksi alsintan program to help procure agricultural tools for farmers through business actors or stores, which is also supported by the smallholder business credit (KUR) assistance.
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Translator: Indra P, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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