TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Vice President Ma'ruf Amin encouraged the agriculture sector to be one of the pillars to anticipate the global economic recession which is predicted to hit in 2023.

“It turns out that the agriculture sector helps cushion the effect of the pandemic and the food crisis,” said Ma'ruf after monitoring Guler Farm Nature in Kandawati Village, Tangerang, Banten on Wednesday, October 6, 2022.

Indonesia is rich in natural resources. Thus, he opined that innovation is necessary to further boost agricultural production.

“West Papua has more than 125 varieties of bananas. That's in West Papua alone. It means we are very rich [in natural resources] but they are underdeveloped. So I hope that it will continue to be developed, there should be no idle land and no unemployed labor,” Ma’ruf remarked.

In response to VP’s statement, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo pledged to keep developing agricultural innovation in all regions of Indonesia. He also claimed that the country has quite good food security recognized by the world.

“The Institute of Rice Research International presents an award to the President for the resilience and food security system in Indonesia,” said Syahrul.

Ma'ruf Amin also applauded the idea of turning a 3-hectare paddy field into a tourist spot that offers stunning views of the rice fields, equipped with a pilot system of "digital farming", a greenhouse for public education, and other facilities.

ANTARA

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