Jokowi Presses for Modernizing Nation`s Agricultural Industry

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has endeavored to drive the modernization of Indonesia's agricultural industry to strike a fine balance between maintaining quality and swiftly catering to the nation's demands alongside competing in the global market.

"We currently live in a modern age. In my childhood days in village, after completing the harvesting, I would leave the crops out in the yard to dry out. We need to change this practice. Rice mills should be equipped with dryers," the head of state remarked at the Farmers Association (Gapoktan), the Rice Milling and Rice Businessmen Society (Perpadi) on Wednesday.

To this end, the president has decided to bridge the gap between Perpadi and banks in a bid to encourage the modernization of the country's agricultural industry.

"It has been a decades-long practice to dry out rice on the roads and in courtyards. We have to alter this practice," he emphasized.

Hence, the president has vowed to fix a meeting of Gapoktan, Perpadi, the National Logistics Agency (Bulog), and the banks at the Presidential Palace following the election.

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"Hence, I will arrange a meeting with the banks after Apr 17, so that a bank loan can be readied for equipping these rice mills with dryers," he remarked.

Jokowi highlighted the importance of modernization for matters not restricted to rice but also corn. "The quality has deteriorated since it only goes through the sun-drying process and is not passed through dryers. We have followed this practice for several years," Jokowi pointed out.

Once the agricultural industry is modernized, the quality of agricultural products can be maintained regardless of the weather conditions.

The president also expressed optimism that all rice mills would have modern packaging equipment in addition to dryers.

"The rice mill already has a packaging machine. It is crucial that the commodity comes packaged and ready for sale or individual consumption," he noted.

The president emphasized the importance of properly packaging this agricultural product as a brand that can make the region prosperous and well-known.

"Hence, all details will be jotted down in Sragen (a Central Java district). For instance, if there is a brand, what brand is given, from which sub-district, what brand, the brand will appear, Sragen will appear," he explained.

The president further added that in future, Indonesia will bear witness to global developments and change, occurring at a fast pace.

"If we do not stay abreast, amend our old practices, and apply new patterns, we will lag behind other nations," Jokowi added.

ANTARA