VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the performance of the agricultural sector, which continues to grow at a positive level during pandemic must be maintained.

In a virtual limited meeting from the Presidential Palace, Bogor, Tuesday, President Jokowi said the growth momentum of the agricultural sector must be continued to sustain the welfare of farmers and fishermen.

In the second quarter of 2020, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the agricultural sector still grows up to 16.24 percent quarter on quarter (q to q) when there are many other business sectors contracted to a negative level due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

If viewed annually, the agricultural sector also continues to grow by 2.19 percent (year on year / yoy).

"We need to maintain the momentum of this positive growth in the agricultural sector so it has a significant impact on the welfare of farmers and fishermen," President Jokowi said at a meeting on Farmers and Fishermen Corporations in Realizing Economic Transformation.

"I would like to remind all of us that amid a pandemic the agricultural sector has contributed the highest to the national economic growth is in a slowing position," the President said.

The President also asked the line ministries and related institutions to realize a business model that can increase the economic capacity of farmers.

If the economic capacity of farmers in groups has increased, it will be easier for farmers to get access to finance and access to information technology, and have sufficient capital to strengthen their marketing.

"This is about exporting farmers and fishermen to improve their standard of living and now in realizing economic transformation," Jokowi said.

The President also asked the ranks of ministries, local governments, and BUMN to help farmers build a larger business scale, from production to post-harvest business. (Antaranews)