Minister Iftitah: Transmigration Must Become the People's Access to Employment

President Prabowo Subianto has positioned farmers and fisherfolk as the backbone of the nation during the 17th National Farmers and Fisherfolk Week (PENAS) in Gorontalo Regency. This message holds significant weight for the Ministry of Transmigration, as the development of transmigration areas has also relied on the strength of working people, farmers, planters, livestock breeders, fisherfolk, and productive families in new regions.

The presence of Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara at the event demonstrated that the transmigration agenda strongly aligns with President Prabowo’s direction: defending ordinary people, strengthening national production, and ensuring Indonesia does not depend on other countries for its basic needs. In his keynote address, the President asserted that farmers and fisherfolk have contributed since the struggle for independence, feeding the people and fighters even when the state had no budget. Therefore, supporting them is not merely a policy choice but a historical debt.

Prabowo also criticised the outdated mindset of resorting to food imports on the grounds of efficiency. For the President, Indonesia’s independence must deliver prosperity for ordinary people, not just profits for a select few. Minister Iftitah interpreted this message as a moral mandate for regional development. He believes the Ministry of Transmigration must pave the way for opening public access to employment.

“Transmigration must become a path to open people’s access to land, jobs, education, technology, markets, and a better future,” he stated on Friday, 26 June 2026. He stressed that transmigration areas must not remain mere settlements but must grow into productive economic ecosystems.

In front of tens of thousands of farmers and fisherfolk, PENAS XVII also showcased new optimism: fertiliser prices have dropped by 20 per cent, the Farmer Exchange Rate reached 127 per cent, the agricultural sector grew by 5.74 per cent, and national food production reportedly hit 38 million tonnes. “These achievements reinforce the belief that Indonesia can stand on its own feet,” he said. He believes this spirit will guide the ministry’s future work, with transmigration areas serving as part of the solution to reduce poverty, expand equity, create new production centres, and uphold the dignity of farmers and local communities.