Page 114 - e-KLIPING KETENAGAKERJAAN 12 AGUSTUS 2020

Judul Stimulus for agriculture
Nama Media Jakarta Post
Newstrend Stimulus For Agriculture
Halaman/URL Pg4
Jurnalis *
Tanggal 2020-08-12 05:37:00
Ukuran 222x79mmk
Warna Hitam/Putih
AD Value Rp 42.180.000

News Value Rp 126.540.000
Kategori Dirjen PHI & Jamsos
Layanan Korporasi
Sentimen Positif

Ringkasan
The 5.3 percent economic contraction in the second quarter reaffirms the vital role of the
agricultural sector, even though its contribution to gross domestic product has steadily declined
to 15.5 percent. Under stable macroeconomic conditions, agriculture is always the laggard in
terms of growth, but amid an economic crisis like we are in now, it is always the savior, helping
to prevent the economy from falling into a deeper contraction.

All the biggest drivers of growth, such as manufacturing and services (trade, financial,
construction and transportation) suffered negative growth due to the devastating impact of the
pandemic, but agriculture, including fisheries and forestry, still enjoyed 2.2 percent growth. Yet
more strategically, agriculture supplies basic food staples and is highly labor intensive.

STIMULUS FOR AGRICULTURE

The 5.3 percent economic contraction in the second quarter reaffirms the vital role of the
agricultural sector, even though its contribution to gross domestic product has steadily declined
to 15.5 percent. Under stable macroeconomic conditions, agriculture is always the laggard in
terms of growth, but amid an economic crisis like we are in now, it is always the savior, helping
to prevent the economy from falling into a deeper contraction.

All the biggest drivers of growth, such as manufacturing and services (trade, financial,
construction and transportation) suffered negative growth due to the devastating impact of the
pandemic, but agriculture, including fisheries and forestry, still enjoyed 2.2 percent growth. Yet
more strategically, agriculture supplies basic food staples and is highly labor intensive.

True, the state budget always allocates subsidies for fertilizer and farm credit. But fiscal stimulus
is only a small part of the broad program needed to empower farmers. Farmers need better
agricultural extension services to help them adopt new technology, notably high-yield seeds and
the best farming practices such as in harvest, planting, fertilizer and pesticide management.

The problem, however, is that for most farm extension workers, their work is uncertain or their
pay is miserable. Worse still, the government has hindered the use of biotechnology for the

113