"However, the rate of absorption declined slightly in 2012."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will encourage labour-intensive agricultural projects this year in anticipation of increased human resources in the sector, according to a minister.
"The labour-intensive projects are expected to absorb a large number of human resources in the agricultural sector," Agriculture Minister Suswono said here on Tuesday.
Citing Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) data, Suswono stated that, up to August 2012, the agricultural sector absorbed 38.8 million workers, accounting for 32.94 percent of the national labour force.
"However, the rate of absorption declined slightly in 2012," the agriculture minister noted.
According to Suswono, the number of people employed in the agriculture sector has been declining over the past years because of the conversion of agricultural land into oil palm plantations.
(Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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