Category: Agrarian

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Agrarian News

Moeldoko Urges Ministries to Sync Data for Agrarian Reform Program

Chief of Staff to the President, Moeldoko, on Tuesday (13/6) chaired a Ministerial-Level Meeting on Data Synchronization of Agrarian Cases/Complaints at the Bina Graha building in Jakarta.

Jakarta – In a bid to accelerate the implementation of Indonesia’s agrarian reform program, the Chief of Staff to the President, Moeldoko, has called upon various ministries to prioritize the synchronization of data related to agrarian cases and complaints. This directive follows President Joko Widodo’s clear instructions during a limited meeting held on January 3, 2023.

Moeldoko himself on Tuesday (13/6) chaired a Ministerial-Level Meeting on Data Synchronization of Agrarian Cases/Complaints  at the Bina Graha building in Jakarta, which was attended by key officials from the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (Kementerian ATR/BPN), Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Kementerian LHK), Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (Kementerian BUMN), Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the Attorney General’s Office (Kejaksaan Agung). 

According to Moeldoko, data synchronization is of paramount importance as the country strives to expedite the progress of the agrarian reform program. “All relevant ministries and institutions must cooperate and collaborate effectively. It is crucial that we address the agrarian complaints received, particularly those directly brought to the President’s attention,” stated Moeldoko.

According to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Human Development, Abetnego Tarigan, a total of 1,385 agrarian cases received by the office between 2016 and May 2023 were logged, comprising reports submitted through consultations, letters, written reports, and the ‘KSP Mendengar’ program.

The cases were then categorized based on the respective ministries involved. The Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency accounted for 716 cases, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises for 359 cases, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for 244 cases, and 66 cases cut across multiple ministries.

To address the challenges and ensure a more targeted approach, the collected data will be distributed to the respective ministries and institutions. The aim is to provide a well-directed strategy for resolving the agrarian issues based on their typology and locations, as stated by Abetnego.

Speaking at the meeting, Hadi Tjahjanto, the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, emphasized the importance of inter-ministerial coordination and harmonization of existing regulations to effectively tackle agrarian problems. The ministry has also introduced accessible platforms such as the lapor.go.id web service, a WhatsApp hotline, and an email system to facilitate the reporting of land-related issues. Hadi reassured that all complaints received are being verified and appropriately addressed.

Meanwhile, Alue Dohong, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry, highlighted the challenges faced in resolving agrarian issues in forest areas. These include the overlapping requests for social forestry with the PBPH (Forest Area Utilization Permit) process and other permits within forested regions. Alue Dohong also acknowledged the constraints caused by limited budget allocations.

Additionally, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises has conducted an inventory of land-related problems and classified their resolutions based on the level of difficulty. Rabin Indrajad Hattari, the Secretary of the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, categorized the cases into three groups: highly challenging, moderately challenging, and easily resolvable.

With Moeldoko’s call for data synchronization, it is expected that the collaboration among ministries and institutions will contribute to more efficient and targeted measures in addressing agrarian issues and expediting the implementation of the agrarian reform program in Indonesia.

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Agrarian News

Moeldoko Highlights Potential of Indonesia-South Korea Collaboration in Agriculture

Chief of Staff to the President, Moeldoko addressed "The 50th Anniversary of Korea-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations Maekyung Indonesia Forum" held in Jakarta on Tuesday (16/5).

Jakarta – Moeldoko, the Chief of Staff to the President, emphasized the promising opportunities for collaboration between Indonesia and South Korea in the agricultural sector, with possibilities for expansion into other domains such as investment and trade.

During his address at “The 50th Anniversary of Korea-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations Maekyung Indonesia Forum” held in Jakarta on Tuesday (16/5), Moeldoko stated, “The value of agricultural trade between Indonesia and South Korea has seen continuous growth, particularly in the last five years.”

According to official data, the total value of agricultural trade between the two countries reached US$18.65 billion in 2018. Notably, this figure surged to US$24.65 billion in 2022, indicating a significant upward trend. Indonesia primarily imports agricultural products, with a particular focus on fruits, from South Korea. On the other hand, Indonesia’s key agricultural exports to South Korea include coffee and spices.

Moeldoko identified various potential areas of cooperation in the agricultural sector between Indonesia and South Korea. These include technology exchange, investment and business collaborations, training and education initiatives, research and development partnerships, and the enhancement of trade intensity and value chain.

“Through such collaboration, Indonesia can bolster its agricultural product exports and expand its market access to South Korea,” Moeldoko explained.

As the Chairman of HKTI (Indonesian Farmers Association), Moeldoko stressed the necessity for support from the governments of Indonesia and South Korea to materialize the proposed cooperation. This entails expediting the harmonization of derivative legislation resulting from the ratification of the Indonesia-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IK-CEPA), promoting business-to-business cooperation by facilitating various processes, and fostering mutually advantageous trade and investment arrangements between the two nations.

Moeldoko’s statements align with the recent gathering of ASEAN leaders in Labuan Bajo, where he emphasized that ASEAN is the epicenter of growth.

The potential collaboration between Indonesia and South Korea in the agricultural sector signifies a promising opportunity for both nations to further strengthen their bilateral ties and create mutually beneficial outcomes. The focus on expanding trade, sharing technological advancements, and fostering investment will likely lead to enhanced agricultural productivity and economic growth in the two countries.

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Agrarian Economics News

Moeldoko Meets with Agricultural Experts to Find Solutions to the Threat of Food Crisis

Moeldoko meets

Jakarta – Presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Moeldoko met an agricultural expert from Padjadjaran University (UNPAD) Prof. Dr. Tualar Simarmata, Ir., M.S, at Bina Graha Building Jakarta, on Wednesday (20/7). This meeting aimed to find a solution to the threat of the world food crisis.

On that occasion, Tualar Simarmata, who is currently a Professor of the Faculty of Agriculture in UNPAD, introduced the innovation of Technology-Based Controlled Aerobic Rice Intensification (IPAT BO).

He said, IPAT BO is an innovation in integrated rice production technology through restoration of the fertility of paddy fields using the twin seedling technique or also known as the jejer manten technique.

By utilizing this technology, he continued, it will reduce the use of seeds, save water use, and utilize organic-based fertilizers, namely using straw compost as a source of soil microbial nutrition.

“We have applied this technology in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi Province, in collaboration with the TNI in its assistance, and succeeded in producing 11-13 tons per hectare,” he said.

In response to this, the Presidential Chief of Staff, Dr. Moeldoko expressed his appreciation for the innovation of Technology-Based Controlled Aerobic Rice Intensification (IPAT BO).

He also emphasized the importance of various breakthroughs and innovations in the agricultural technology sector, so as to optimize agricultural production results. Moreover, in facing the threat of a food crisis (food security) and realizing national food security and independence.

“What must be considered is how in the future agricultural activities can be carried out more easily, produce abundant production, and with low production costs for farmers,” he said.

Moeldoko who is also the General Chair of HKTI said that currently the average rate of rice productivity has only reached 5-6 tons per hectare, and productivity needs to be increased to 7-8 tons per hectare.

For this reason, appropriate innovations are needed so that productivity in the agricultural sector can be further increased.

“The presence of innovations such as IPAT BO is very much needed and needs to be introduced more widely to our farmers. Initiatives like this need to be continued, so that we are able to have food sovereignty,” said Moeldoko.

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Agrarian Deputy II News

Govt Accelerates Social Forestry Program, Ensures Local Community Welfare

Deputy Chief of Staff for Human Development of the Executive Office of the President, Abetnego Tarigan.

Banyuwangi – The Deputy Chief of Staff for Human Development, Abetnego Tarigan, said that President Joko Widodo has paid special attention to the “social forestry” program administered to grant welfare and rights to communities.

He told the forest village community in the Gombengsari sub-district and Kalipuro sub-district, Banyuwangi, that the government has aimed to reallocate 12.7 million hectares of state forest to be given to the local communities under the so-called social forestry program.

“It’s not only about granting land rights to the people, but it is also about providing opportunities for the people to get the economic benefit from the land. That’s what the President wants,” said Abetnego, Tuesday (20/6).

As part of his official visits to Banyuwangi, Abetnego praised the joint-effort between state-owned or private companies and local communities to manage forests.

There are 458.40 hectares of land belonging to the state-owned forestry company, Perum Perhutani. The land is currently managed by the North Banyuwangi management units (KPH). in collaboration with a local Forest Village Community Institution (LMDH) Kemuning Asri.

The partnership is well implemented under Government Regulation No. 23/2021 on forestry administration, referring to the Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No 9/2021 on social forestry management, as well.

As Abetnego applauded such collaboration, he also hinted that the Executive Office of the President (KSP) has been pushing for the issuance of a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) on Integrated Planning for the Acceleration of Social Forestry Management.

The urgency of the Presidential Decree, he said, was to provide a roadmap in accelerating the social forestry program, so that the reallocation target of 12.7 million hectares of land could be achieved with collaboration and support from civil society. 

“So that the empowerment of forest village communities can be further improved and the program can provide an economic boost as expected by the President,” said Abetnego.

Chairman of the Forest Village Community Institute (LMDH) Kemuning Asri Fakhurrozi admitted that the Collaborative Forest Management had made a positive impact on the community itself, especially in Gombengsari village.

He further said, partnering with Perhutani has been providing job opportunities and allowing an increase in production from the use of non-timber forest sources. Both in the agricultural, plantation, and livestock sectors.

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Agrarian Economics News

Bringing Old Grains Back, President Jokowi Joins Moeldoko In Sorghum Debuts In East Sumba

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko alongside President Joko Widodo harvested sorghum crops on Thursday (2/6), in Laipori Village, East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara.

Waingapu, East Nusa Tenggara – Presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Moeldoko, on Thursday (2/6), has invited President Joko Widodo to plant and harvest sorghum food crops in Laipori Village, East Sumba regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

Amid the global geopolitical turmoil, Moeldoko has long been voicing his concern on the food crisis. The retired Indonesian military general has initiated the sorghum cultivation program, expecting the traditional crops to be an alternative food to rice, corn and wheat.

“It’s time for Sorghum to be widely cultivated in Indonesia. The plant is obdurate, a drought-tolerant crop. It can survive even in areas with less water resources, constant heat and low rainfall,” said Moeldoko.

Sorghum cultivation program in Kab. East Sumba is primarily being carried out in Laipori Village covering an area of ​​3,200 hectares. Another ​​800 hectares of land in Ngohung Village is also being used for the cultivation program.

In the 1970s, sorghum grain was easily found and widely consumed in East Nusa Tenggara. The plant can survive arid and semi arid tropics, turning marginal lands into productive ones. 

The former critical lands in East Sumba, for example, is now able to produce 15 tons of sorghum grains and is projected to result in Indonesian Rp 50 million profits.

Showing great adaptation to changing climate conditions, the plant is also rich in carbohydrates.  making it a suitable substitute for rice, corn and wheat.

In addition to climate change and geopolitical issues, the wide-ranging health and economic impacts of COVID-19 have put pressure on the country’s food security system. The president has called for actions on the issues of key staples supply, distribution, and price, following the warning of global food shortage made by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

“We want to have multiple [food] alternatives to be consumed [in this country]. Food diversification means we should not be dependent on rice, as we have corn, sago, and now we are bringing back our old crop, sorghum,” said President Jokowi.