Dasco: Agriculture Ministry's Budget Reallocation for Disaster Relief Should Be Emulated
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated that Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman's swift action in managing and reallocating budgets for post-disaster recovery in Sumatra should serve as an example for other ministries and government agencies.
During a Coordination Meeting of the Sumatra Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force at Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, Dasco expressed appreciation for the Agriculture Minister's steps in preparing rice supplies for affected communities whilst simultaneously adjusting budget allocations to meet urgent needs at disaster sites.
"Thank you to the Agriculture Minister for preparing more than sufficient rice supplies for our fellow citizens there [at the disaster locations] and also for the budget reallocations deemed possible to temporarily meet needs, which could be emulated by other ministries," Dasco said.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister and Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Andi Amran Sulaiman explained that assistance for disaster-affected areas comprised regular aid through Bapanas of approximately Rp1 trillion and non-regular aid through partners and the Agriculture Ministry Cares programme amounting to Rp75.8 billion.
Furthermore, the Agriculture Ministry has taken strategic steps by shifting its regular budget to accelerate the recovery of the agricultural sector. The estimated budget requirement for recovery stands at Rp4.7 trillion. Of this amount, the ministry has already reallocated Rp1.4 trillion from its regular budget.
"We have communicated this to Bappenas [the National Development Planning Agency] and also the Finance Minister," he explained.
Amran also assured food availability in the affected areas. Rice stocks for the affected regions have been recorded at approximately 100,000 tonnes, equivalent to three months of community needs on the ground.
"God willing, the agricultural sector, particularly food availability on the ground, is sufficient for the next three months," Amran said.
During a Coordination Meeting of the Sumatra Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force at Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, Dasco expressed appreciation for the Agriculture Minister's steps in preparing rice supplies for affected communities whilst simultaneously adjusting budget allocations to meet urgent needs at disaster sites.
"Thank you to the Agriculture Minister for preparing more than sufficient rice supplies for our fellow citizens there [at the disaster locations] and also for the budget reallocations deemed possible to temporarily meet needs, which could be emulated by other ministries," Dasco said.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister and Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Andi Amran Sulaiman explained that assistance for disaster-affected areas comprised regular aid through Bapanas of approximately Rp1 trillion and non-regular aid through partners and the Agriculture Ministry Cares programme amounting to Rp75.8 billion.
Furthermore, the Agriculture Ministry has taken strategic steps by shifting its regular budget to accelerate the recovery of the agricultural sector. The estimated budget requirement for recovery stands at Rp4.7 trillion. Of this amount, the ministry has already reallocated Rp1.4 trillion from its regular budget.
"We have communicated this to Bappenas [the National Development Planning Agency] and also the Finance Minister," he explained.
Amran also assured food availability in the affected areas. Rice stocks for the affected regions have been recorded at approximately 100,000 tonnes, equivalent to three months of community needs on the ground.
"God willing, the agricultural sector, particularly food availability on the ground, is sufficient for the next three months," Amran said.