Agricultural sector must be revitalized soon: Wiranto<\/p>\n
TEGAL, Central Java (JP): Given the economic crisis, the
\nagricultural sector must be revitalized as soon as possible to
\nmeet the nation's food needs, Minister of Defense\/Armed Forces
\n(ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after launching the National
\nAgricultural Cooperation Program, Wiranto described how the Armed
\nForces was taking up the challenge of helping to establish food
\nsufficiency by converting idle land into productive land.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the need for food could not be delayed.<\/p>\n
"This is a concern of ABRI, working together with the people
\nto help ease the country's plight in the crisis," he said.<\/p>\n
Wiranto was accompanied yesterday by Minister of Manpower Theo
\nL. Sambuaga, Minister of Agriculture Justika Sjarifudin
\nBaharsjah, State Minister of Food, Drugs and Horticulture
\nHaryanto Dhanutirto, Army Chief Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, and
\nArmed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Wahab Mokodongan.<\/p>\n
The cooperation scheme, dubbed by Wiranto as "a cross sectoral
\nand cross ministerial program", is supported by ABRI and 14
\nrelated ministries and government offices.<\/p>\n
Its initial target is cultivating 100,000 hectares of idle
\nland. The longer-term plan is to work on 3 million hectares of
\nacross the country, according to Wiranto.<\/p>\n
"This is a step taken by ABRI to anticipate a possible food
\ncrisis, preparing for the worst possible scenario. But, we
\nhaven't seen that there's been that crisis yet," he said.<\/p>\n
Late last year and early this year, some drought-hit regions
\nin the country witnessed food riots.<\/p>\n
Given the situation and the country's depleting foreign
\nreserves, the agricultural sector must never be neglected,
\nWiranto said.<\/p>\n
"We can't imagine what could happen if the foreign reserves
\nreally run out," Wiranto said, referring to the state's net
\ninternational reserves which at present stand at US$13.571
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
Without elaborating, he said it now was time for the whole
\nnation to work together and that "talking, shouting, and
\ndemanding" would not help solve problems.<\/p>\n
According to Wiranto, the program has four targets -- to meet
\nfood needs and reduce imports; to further foster ABRI's unity
\nwith the people; to entice farmers who have been absorbed by
\nother sectors to return to the land and to provide employment for
\nmillions of people who have lost their jobs during the crisis.<\/p>\n
Justika said the idle land would planted with rice, corn, and
\nsoybeans. (45\/aan)<\/p>",
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