FAO surprised by the success of the agricultural sector in Indonesia

JawaPos.com – Representative of the Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO) for Indonesia and Timor Leste, Stephen Rudgard, appreciates the progress and the success of the agricultural sector in Indonesia. Especially in the alleviation of rural poverty.

He was voiced during his working visit to the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) RI in Jakarta on Tuesday (3/7).

During this visit, Stephen discussed with the Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman. Amran is considered to have succeeded in leading Kementan.

One of them is to encourage the Indonesian agricultural industry, thus achieving a number of achievements in terms of food exports and agricultural technology development.

"I am proud and happy to be able to discuss with the Minister of Agriculture the priority of future programs between FAO and Kementan," said Stephen.

In the near future, Stephen said that he would invite FAO's Director General, José Graziano Da Silva, to Indonesia to see the progress of Indonesian agriculture.

It was done to increase cooperation by increasing the production and welfare of farmers. Even increase the volume of export of Indonesian food to various countries.

"We want to see first hand the progress of Indonesian agriculture.Because many achievements greatly increase the production and export volume.Agricultural policy, when has managed to reduce the level of poverty in rural areas, "he said.

Minister Amran adds to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia FAO, in the near future, will visit South Sulawesi, especially look directly at the development of cocoa and meet farmers to provide education.

The role of FAO should be to help Indonesian farmers.

"We hope that our cocoa production will be larger, from 600 tons, we target more than 1 million tons," said Amran.

Strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Iran

In addition to the FAO, the Minister of Agriculture Amran also received the visit of the Iranian Ambbadador to Indonesia, Timor Leste and ASEAN, Valoillah Mohammadi. Amran urges Iran to invest and cooperate in the export of imported food products.

"I invite you to invest in Indonesia, we are talking about how to share their capital, they also offer wheat at competitive prices compared to Australia while we offer milk, sugar and corn. "

Ambbadador Valoillah Mohammadi explains that cooperation in the field of agriculture with Indonesia is important and very strategic. Because Indonesia has various food products.

"We have a large wheat industry, Indonesia also has a diversified commodity, so it will need a good cooperation."

During this visit, the Iranian ambbadador also promised to encourage Iranian entrepreneurs to invest in Indonesia. This is in line with the Kementan program to increase investment in the agricultural sector.