Agricom.id, JAKARTA – Chief Delegation of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Indonesia, Richard Trenchard told, in this hard time like now, the agriculture in Indonesia contributes and maintain the positive economic progress. This is the amazing achievement and needs respect.

During Covid-19 pandemic, the agriculture in Indonesia plays significant roles because it increased gross domestic product in agriculture about 2,19% compared to the previous year (year on year).

“The agriculture in Indonesia moves forward because of the same collaboration and togetherness from every stakeholder to encourage food security,” he said, as in the official statement to Agricom.id.

The agriculture in Indonesia, he continued, is amazing. He saw that many work both male and female. The government both in the local and national level supports the farmers. “The roles of universities, civil organizations, and private sectors to encourage the agriculture in this country,” he said.

Meanwhile Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) did appreciate the attention and contribution that FAO gave to develop the agriculture in Indonesia.

“We do appreciate the supports given. More than 650 projects and cooperation, more than 1600 national and international experts and consultants helped to develop the agriculture in Indonesia,” he said.

Right before Richard Trebchard, SYL also told the strategies to develop agriculture as the backbone of economy in Covid-19 by implementing 5 cara bertindak (CB) of five ways to do, as the policy to maintain food security to increase the competitive production with the support of infrastructures through technology.

SYL mentioned that he is optimist with 5 CB which has the similarity with 5 action tracks that United Nations develops for Food System Summit.

“We are happy to know that 5 CB we are doing, as a matter of fact, is the same with 5 action tracks that United Nations develops for Food System Summit,” SYL said.

“To maintain food availability for the people of Indonesia, we published some policies, such as, increasing the production, developing local food diversification, strengthening food backup and logistic system, developing modern agricultural practices and increasing agricultural exports,” he said before joining virtual East Asia and Pacific Minister Meeting, Friday (23/04)

Richard thought that the supports of FAO for all these years were to strengthening food system and family farming which were executed by Badan Ketahanan Pangan, strengthening the animal’s health and livestock sectors which was executed by General Directorate of Livestock and Animal Health, accelerating the digitalization in agriculture through electronic agriculture (e-agriculture), which was developed by Pusdatin and Badan Litbang Pertanian. (A2)