Mentan Akui `Happy` Panen Jagung Melimpah, Harga Kembali Normal
Indonesia`s Corn Production Increased and Its Price Rises
Reporter : Gusmiati Waris
Editor : Cahyani Harzi
Translator : Dhelia Gani
Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta (B2B) - Menteri Pertanian RI, Andi Amran Sulaiman mengaku gembira mendengar pengakuan dari petani jagung di Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta bahwa harga jagung di tingkat petani kembali normal, di kisaran 3.000 rupiah per kg, sementara dua bulan lalu hanya 1.500 rupiah per kg.
"Setelah panen jagung dan dialog dengan petani jagung, kita dapat melihat bahwa produksi jagung dan harganya kembali normal sesuai pernyataan BPS (Badan Pusat Statistik) bahwa produksi pertanian di dalam negeri meningkat," kata Menteri Amran Sulaiman pada Rabu pagi (4/11) usai panen dan dialog dengan petani di Desa Sendangsari, Kecamatan Pengasih, Kabupaten Kulonprogo, DI Yogyakarta.
Mentan melakukan panen jagung didampingi Anggota Dewan Pertimbangan Presiden (Wantimpres) Sidarto Danusubroto; Bupati Kulonprogo, Hasto Wardoyo; Komandan Kodim 0731 Kulonprogo, Letkol Czi Cornelis Rompas; dan Kepala Dinas Pertanian dan Kehutanan Kulonprogo, Bambang Tri Budi.
Kegiatan dilanjutkan dengan menyerahkan bantuan sejumlah alat mesin pertanian antara lain dua unit mesin traktor roda empat, 36 unit pompa air, 100 unit traktor roda dua, dan enam unit combine harvester kepada kelompok tani setempat.
Mentan Amran mengingatkan bahwa petani hanya menuntut harga yang wajar, dan pemerintah harus mengendalikan impor jagung agar petani dapat kembali menanam dan meningkatkan produksinya.
"Pemerintah tidak anti impor pangan tapi mengendalikan impor seperti jagung, untuk melindungi kepentingan petani. Kita harus bela petani Indonesia dan bukan memperkaya petani asing, dan kita mengimpor sesuai kebutuhan bukan karena keinginan," kata Amran Sulaiman.
Kulonprogo, Indonesia (B2B) - Indonesian Agriculture Minister, Andi Amran Sulaiman admitted happy heard recognition of a corn farmer in Kulonprogro that the corn prices at the farm level is back to normal, at around 3,000 rupiah per kg, while two months ago, only 1,500 rupiah per kg.
"After the harvest and dialogue with farmers, we know the price of corn back to normal as Indonesian Statistics Agency said that the agricultural production in the country increased," said Minister Sulaiman on Wednesday (11/4) after the corn harvest in Sendangsari village of Pengasih sub-district in Kulonprogo district, Yogyakarta province.
He was conducted the corn harvests accompanied by the Presidential Advisory Council Member, Sidarto Danusubroto; Kulonprogro Regent, Hasto Wardoyo; Kulonprogro District Military Commander, Lt. Col. Czi Cornelis Rompas; and Head of Kulonprogo Agriculture and Forestry Department, Bambang Tri Budi.
Besides to corn harvest, Indonesian minister handed over a number of agricultural machinery among others two units of four-wheel tractors, 36 units of water pumps, 100 units of two-wheel tractors and six units of combine harvester to the local farmers´ groups.
He warned the farmers are demanding fair prices, and the government must control the imports so that farmers can replant and improve agricultural production.
"The government is not anti imported food but import controls, in order to protect interests of farmers. We must defend Indonesian farmers and not to enrich foreign farmers, and we import as needed not the interest," Mr Sulaiman said.
