Prospects of an agricultural sector will be auspicious if we seriously manage it. However, the policy change causes some problems so that a number of targets cannot be achieved.
In the International Tropical Farming Summer School (ITFSS) #3 on Thursday (22/3) at Graduate School of UMY, a pest expert of University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) Prof. Dr. Ir. Edhi Martono, M.Sc. stated, “We have to consistent to enhance the prosperity of farmers and reach our goals. Indeed, government of Indonesia and other countries should make policy based on the consideration of experts, academicians, scholars and scientists. Therefore, the policy should stand for farmers and can contribute to overcome agricultural issues and to boost the quality of farmers.”
Edhi inserted that agricultural issues, shifting cultivation, should be confronted. The fertile land should be changed to be housing, industries, or malls. “For instance, Bantul’s cultivation may not be shifted. Besides, a state should carefully make a decision of the food import policy since it will bring impacts on local agriculture. The food import policy should be discussed together so that government makes the policy firmly by considering all indicators,” emphasized Edhi in a lecture of the summer school conducted by Faculty of Agriculture of UMY and participated by students from Taiwan, Thailand, the People’s Republic of China, and Indonesia.
Edhi also informed that agriculture in Indonesia and other countries has been equal even though some fruits growing in Indonesia does not exist in other regions. “If our local products possess high quality, Indonesia can compete with foreign products. Thus, we have to commit to educate farmers so that they can yield incredibly, uniquely, typically agricultural products. People will appreciate the farmers for the high quality products which will also determine producers and target markets. Through this summer school, students are expected to focus on the agriculture since there are a lot of occasions and potential to be developed,” he declared.
Meanwhile, chief of the committee of the ITFSS Dr. Innaka Ageng Rineksane, S.P., M.P. told, “Besides this seminar, we are going to have Focus Group Discussion (FGD), a trip to Mt. Merapi, a visit to coastal sand farming and organic agriculture. The participants are also going to be introduced with integrated agricultural development. This summer school may enable participants to broaden their horizon dealing with agriculture. Indeed, we also promote that Indonesia is rich in natural resources to foreign students,” she wished.
