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| Saturday, 8 August 2015, 14:00 HKT/SGT | |
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JAKARTA, Aug 8, 2015 - (ACN Newswire) - Indonesia has made advancements in science and technology in the agricultural sector, according to Professor Totok Agung Dwi Haryanto of the Faculty of Agriculture of Jenderal Soedirman University.
"In agricultural productivity, such as those of rice, corn and soybean, we are number one in the world if we calculate the annual yield of the commodities per hectare," he said here on Friday.
Haryanto stated that the government has not been able to improve the welfare of farmers, which continues to be a major problem in Indonesia. In fact, he added, farmers serve as the backbone of a nation's food security and sovereignty.
"We will face this challenge in the future. We still agree that the prices of food commodities should be low so that everyone can afford to buy them," he stressed.
However, farmers should not have to bear the low prices of food because they will not be able to prosper, the professor remarked. According to Haryanto, the low prices of food products should be borne by the government.
"So the challenge is to identify ways in which the government can ensure the welfare of farmers, including one that can help rebuild nationalism," he noted, adding that the move to import agricultural commodities indicated the weakening of nationalism.
The government should curtail the import of food commodities to appreciate farmers. As a result, they will be more eager to produce them.
Among other solutions that can be implemented by the government are providing farmers timely subsidies as well as fertilizers and seeds at decent prices.
"The prices of food commodities should not be left in the hand of the market mechanism; they should be managed by the government," he emphasized.
Therefore, the government is obliged to provide facilities, equipment and infrastructure to farmers to ensure the availability of food stock at all times.
In addition, Haryanto urged the government to revitalize agricultural counseling institutions that have been unable to function optimally.
"The government should prioritize the welfare of farmers for the sake of food sovereignty," Haryanto pointed out. --Antara.
Topic: Press release summary
Sectors: Daily News
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