"Today, we see the investment in the JUT, which can increase agricultural productivity in Garut, which also can boost exports," Deputy Minister of Agriculture Harvick Husnul Qolbi said in Cintanagara Village here on Wednesday.
According to him, the JUT program aims to enhance food crop productivity and improve farmers' welfare.
The deputy minister said that the funds for the JUT development are not in the form of handover assistance, but rather a direct investment from the central government for regions.
The investment can bring benefits to the people of Garut, he added.
"We will monitor the investment and wait for its utilization," he informed.
He said the investment can be used for the JUT program, provision of seedlings or nursery plants, planting, and other agricultural business activities that can generate benefits for Garut.
"I will visit here again in a few months, and we will see what the benefits look like," he added.
He informed that the central government has not only invested in Garut district, but also other regions across Indonesia though the amount has varied depending on each region's need.
"Not only in Garut, but all of Indonesia, hopefully, we can implement this in villages in Indonesia soon," Qolbi said.
Meanwhile, Garut District Head Rudy Gunawan thanked the central government for according attention to the region.
He said Garut has considerable agricultural potential, with a number of superior commodities such as corn, tomatoes, potatoes, chilis, and shallots.
This investment, he informed, will increase the enthusiasm of farmers' groups in farming, which could provide benefits and realize welfare.
"This is what the people of Garut need to expand the agriculture business network, apart from the (assistance sourced from) the regional budget," he added.
Related news: Indonesia to prepare 500,000 hectares of farmland to face El Nino
Related news: Ministry to counter El Nino impact with drought-resistant varieties
Translator: Feri P, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
