Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – The Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto has allocated a food security budget of IDR 104.2 trillion in 2022 with a focus on strengthening the agricultural sector and maintaining food reserves.
“Strengthening the agricultural sector is carried out, among others, by developing agricultural cultivation, developing infrastructure including storage, fertilizer subsidies, and providing low interest on credit,” said Airlangga at the 2023 Kick Off of the National Movement for Food Inflation Control (GNPIP) monitored in Jakarta, Sunday.
He detailed that the budget will be distributed to ministries and agencies, non-ministerial institutions, and transfers to the regions.
For ministries and institutions, Rp. 15.3 trillion of the food security budget will be channeled to the Ministry of Agriculture, Rp. 6.8 trillion to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Rp. 23.9 trillion to the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), and Rp. 100 billion to the Food Agency. National.
Then, Rp. 25.3 trillion is allocated for the fertilizer subsidy budget, Rp. 1.8 trillion for the government’s rice reserves, and Rp. 2.6 trillion for other food price stabilization programs.
Through transfers to the regions, the government will distribute Rp. 8.6 trillion in physical special allocation funds (DAK), Rp. 0.3 trillion in non-physical DAK, and Rp. 13.6 trillion in village funds.
The government also distributes People’s Business Credit (KUR) for agricultural tools and machinery ranging from IDR 500 million to IDR 200 billion with an interest rate of 3 percent.
“Now when it rains, the challenge for farmers is drying, and of course KUR for the procurement of agricultural tools and machinery can be utilized,” he said.
Meanwhile, to maintain people’s purchasing power, the government will also distribute assistance to beneficiaries of the Family Hope Program (PKJ) in the form of eggs and chicken meat for 3 months starting in March, April and May 2023.
“This is being regulated, this assistance will be provided within three months, especially to deciles who receive PKH and non-cash food assistance,” he said. (mhn/bbs)
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