BISNISTIME.COM, JAKARTA – Friday January 10, 2025 – In a groundbreaking initiative to elevate the status and income of farmers and transmigrants, the Indonesian government aims to ensure they earn more than cabinet ministers.
This commitment was affirmed by Minister of Transmigration, M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, and Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two ministries on Thursday (Jan 9, 2025) at the Ministry of Agriculture office in Ragunan, Jakarta.
“Farmers and transmigrants should no longer be seen as second-class citizens. They are the backbone of our nation’s development. With the Ministry of Transmigration providing land and workforce, and the Ministry of Agriculture equipping them with rice fields, agricultural machinery, and technical guidance, we are confident they can achieve financial prosperity beyond ministerial salaries,” Minister Iftitah stated before the media.
This commitment was affirmed by Minister of Transmigration, M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, and Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Minister Amran Sulaiman further emphasized that this initiative is not just a concept but a proven success. “With advanced agricultural technology and modern machinery, young farmers from Aceh to Papua are already earning a net income of IDR 15-20 million per month. We are committed to realizing community welfare through sustainable farming.”
The MoU marks a strategic collaboration to accelerate Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency, a key agenda of President Prabowo’s administration. The Ministry of Agriculture has laid out an ambitious plan to optimize 500,000 hectares of existing farmland and develop an additional 500,000 hectares of new rice fields in designated priority areas.
Through the Brigade Pangan (Food Brigade) approach, every 200 hectares of rice fields will be managed by 15 trained farmers equipped with state-of-the-art agricultural machinery to maximize productivity and income.
Minister Iftitah likened this collaboration to military strategy, saying, “The Ministry of Agriculture acts as the infantry, leading the charge towards food sovereignty, while we, the Ministry of Transmigration, support as the cavalry, ensuring success on the ground.”
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Transmigration, Viva Yoga Mauladi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ali Jamil, and other high-ranking officials from both ministries.
This landmark partnership signals a transformative shift in Indonesia’s agricultural landscape, setting a new standard for farmer prosperity and national food security.
Source: Ministry Of Public Relations
