Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf held a coordination meeting with Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Sudaryono, in Jakarta on Monday to discuss data integration and the utilization of the agriculture sector to support the empowerment of poor people.
"We talked about data. Second, we will try to focus on the agriculture sector; what can be done to eradicate poverty with this new data, especially to boost food security," Yusuf informed.
The discussion focused on strategic collaboration between the ministries for utilizing the agricultural sector to reach the poor, especially in rural areas.
Deputy Minister Sudaryono noted that the agricultural sector is more accessible to the poor.
"We from the Ministry of Agriculture always feel that the agricultural sector is the easiest sector to learn. The agricultural sector can reach the poor better, especially those in villages," he said.
According to him, the Ministry of Social Affairs has a strategic role in mapping the poor who have the potential to be empowered through agricultural programs, so that in the future they can boost agricultural production.
He also emphasized that the poor will be provided seeds and seedlings that they can plant and manage independently.
The move is not only expected to reduce the expenditure of the poor but also help curb inflation in the prices of commodities such as chilies, vegetables, and fruits.
He further said that the collaboration between the two ministries is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's instruction to prioritize poverty alleviation.
He added that data from the Ministry of Social Affairs would be an important basis for ensuring that agricultural programs for the community are accurate and help pull people out of poverty.
The ministries of social affairs and agriculture are optimistic that, with the help of valid data and integrated social programs, they can accelerate the realization of President Prabowo's Asta Cita mission to eradicate poverty.
Related news: Ministry bolsters collaboration to eradicate extreme poverty
Related news: Village funds to target eradicating poverty, enhancing food security
Related news: Poverty, unemployment rates declined in 2024: Minister Indrawati
Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
