Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Chairman Rosan P. Roeslani believes the government should prioritize development in the food and agriculture sector that has clocked consistent positive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Roeslani highlighted that food and agriculture was a reliable sector for maintaining economic, social, and political stability during the pandemic.
"Domestic and international demand for food products remains high, and this sector has huge potential to grow. Hence, growth in the sector would need to be prioritized in future," the KADIN chairman stated during the virtual Jakarta Food Security Summit here on Wednesday.
Growth in the strategic food sector will encourage sustainable economic development.
Roeslani opined that development in the food and agriculture sector can lower unemployment, boost public welfare, and eradicate poverty.
During the second and third quarter of 2020, the food crop sector had recorded growth of 9.23 percent and 7.14 percent respectively, the highest in the past three years.
Cumulatively, the agriculture sector, forestry and fishery had recorded growth of 2.19 percent and 2.16 percent in the second and third quarter of 2020 respectively.
Kadin has urged the government to issue a consistent policy to achieve national food resilience, especially during the pandemic, so that Indonesia can meet the domestic and international demand for food.
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