Supporting Food Security, Transmigrants Receive Agricultural Machinery Assistance
North Gorontalo, Kompas.com - Deputy Minister of Transmigration Viva Yoga Mauladi stated that transmigration areas play a role as the national food barn and become centres for rice production.
According to him, the government is encouraging the strengthening of the agricultural sector in transmigration areas through cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, including the provision of agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan).
He explained that the government first surveys the needs of the transmigration community who work as farmers before distributing assistance.
“We survey the needs from the transmigration community who farm, then we collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture on budget allocation, then facilities and infrastructure, and the needs of infrastructure in the transmigration areas, and now it is already underway,” he said.
In addition to the agricultural sector, the government is also building various basic infrastructures to support community activities in transmigration areas.
Viva mentioned that the construction of a 2-kilometre road in North Gorontalo Regency has been carried out and will be continued this year. In addition, the government is also preparing the construction of a dam to address frequent flooding during the rainy season.
He added that there is still about 1.5 kilometres of road that has been proposed for further construction.
Viva said that all these programmes are part of the President’s directives to improve the quality of life for the transmigration community.
The government, he said, targets the transmigration community to increase their income and live in a more decent and comfortable environment.
He emphasised that the Ministry of Transmigration’s responsibility is not only to transmigrant residents but also to local communities living in those areas.
“Because the Ministry of Transmigration is not only responsible for the community in the settlement units, but also the local community living in the transmigration areas, that is also our responsibility,” he stressed.