As it tries to ward off the fallout from the global recession, Indonesia\u2019s economy should focus more on developing the agriculture sector.<\/p>\n
That was the message conveyed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono\u2019s Democratic Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB), when the two parties met Saturday with representatives from the business community to discuss the parties\u2019 respective economic policies.<\/p>\n
The two, in separate discussions, said they would prioritize their economic policies in sectors that employed large numbers of people, including agriculture.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur main focus is on agriculture, fisheries and other industries absorbing a huge workforce. We will formulate policies to provide incentives, capital access and human resources to these sectors,\u201d said Democratic Party executive Mohammad Jafar Hafsah.<\/p>\n
He was presenting his party\u2019s economic approach to business leaders from the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo).<\/p>\n
Jafar said the Democratic Party, if it took the most votes at the April 9 elections, would significantly raise spending in these sectors from the state budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe proportion of spending in these sectors must be increased in the state budget,\u201d he said, but did not give details on the percentage of the increase.<\/p>\n
The party also proposed expanding farmlands for rice paddies in a bid to secure the country\u2019s food security. It also said an intervention was needed to protect rice farmers from falling crop prices.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government needs to set the prices based on dried unhusked rice,\u201d said party chairman Hadi Utomo.<\/p>\n
His statement provoked questions about the impact of high rice prices on consumers.
\nHowever, Darwin Zahedy Saleh, head of the Democratic Party\u2019s economic division, said protecting rice prices would benefit everyone, because \u201csome 50 percent of households in Indonesia were farming households\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy protecting the price of dried unhusked rice, we\u2019re protecting public welfare in general. This means we can increase people\u2019s purchasing power,\u201d Darwin said.<\/p>\n
A focus on agricultural development was also announced by the PKB. Eko Sandjojo, head of the PKB\u2019s economic team, said the party would provide easier access for farmers to capital resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe PKB will formulate regulations that provide incentives for banks to provide low-interest loans for our farmers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s discussions marked the second day of a three-day seminar organized by Apindo, featuring the six biggest parties based on the 2004 election results.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) presented their economic policies on Friday.<\/p>\n
Three other parties - the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) - are to present their respective policies on Monday.<\/p>\n
Apindo chairman Sofjan Wanandi said businesspeople needed more discussions with political parties in the future, as businesses sought certainty that any party winning the next elections would not abruptly change the economic policies of the current government, which is dominated by a coalition of the Democratic Party and Golkar.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot expect the parties to explain their concrete programs in a two-hour discussion,\u201d Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand they might be a bit cautious because they are afraid of losing votes. Thus we need further discussions for them to elaborate their policies by sector.\u201d<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/democrats-and-pkb-say-they-will-focus-on-agriculture-sector-1234767965", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }