The Agriculture Business Road (JUT) assistance program can spur regional economic growth, especially in the agricultural sector, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Harvick Hasnul Qolbi.
In a statement received on Saturday, he emphasized that improving facilities and infrastructure is crucial in boosting agricultural productivity, especially amid the El Nino weather phenomenon.
"Our current challenge in the agricultural sector is the extreme El Nino weather. Therefore, agricultural facilities and infrastructure are required to support food availability in the future," he said.
On Friday (July 28), he reviewed the three-kilometer JUT assistance program in a village in Tasikmalaya District, West Java.
Qolbi noted that the construction of JUT in the village can connect plantation areas, especially coffee plantations that cover an area of 40 hectares, which can increase economic activities.
Meanwhile, District Head of Tasikmalaya, Ade Sugianto, pointed out that the JUT program can increase productivity and add value to agricultural products in the region.
He explained that the district government is striving to increase farmers' income, community welfare, and the regional economy by improving the quality of human resources and institutions.
"I hope that with this JUT, the central government's policies will be implemented more effectively and based on regional development and challenges," Sugianto stated.
He expects greater synergy between the central government and regions to apply better policies for the agricultural sector.
Minister of Agriculture, Syarul Yasin Limpo, previously noted that the road construction program is a step to facilitate farmers in expanding the distribution channels of their crops.
JUT was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture to support national economic recovery following the pandemic.
The program aims to connect food crops, plantations, horticultural, and livestock cultivation areas.
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Editor : Mahdani
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