Zon also drew attention to the need for an omnibus law for the agricultural sector, considering that the current legislation on related issues and sectors is quite diverse.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP) of DPR RI, Fadli Zon, brought up several agricultural issues, such as the need to increase the exchange rate for farmers, at the ASEAN Inter-Country Parliamentary Forum.

"The exchange rate for our farmers was only 112.46 in 2023. This needs an increase. We need the availability of fertilizer, seeds, and animal feed," he noted in a statement from his office on Wednesday.

He said that farmers and livestock breeders deserve to reap profits of up to 30 percent.

Zon also drew attention to the need for an omnibus law for the agricultural sector, considering that the current legislation on related issues and sectors is quite diverse.

He remarked that the omnibus law needed may cover several aspects, in this case, related to the agricultural sector.

He then drew attention to the Agriculture Ministry's functions that should be strengthened.

"Agricultural affairs need to become mandatory affairs in the regions as an affirmative step towards the agricultural sector," he emphasized.

On this occasion, Zon remarked that farmer regeneration was also necessary since the number of millennial farmers in Indonesia is only around 21 percent.

"Therefore, agriculture needs to be packaged attractively to draw the interest of young people. If not, we will have a shortage of farmers in the next few decades," he remarked.

On the other hand, demographic pressure is increasing and having an impact on the food supply. For now, 280 million Indonesian people need food thrice a day. At the same time, climate change, which affects extreme weather and water supplies, is affecting agricultural conditions.

He then concluded that various efforts are needed to transform agriculture into agribusiness, and increasing investment in addressing agricultural issues is necessary.

Zon highlighted that the ASEAN- Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) can bridge these efforts.

“The guidelines have fundamental benefits, not only for the agricultural sectors but also for national governance. Through this forum, the parliament is expected to support agricultural governance and farmer businesses in the future," he remarked.

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Translator: Putu Indah S, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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