Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman revoked official travel expenses of Rp800 billion and diverted them to increase food crop production and help farmers.
According to him, not only the official trip, currently some budget posts of the ministry are also abolished, such as for the procurement of cars, two-wheeled vehicles, and others.
"In 2018 as much as 85 percent of the Agriculture Ministry State Budget is allocated to increase the production of all food crop sectors and assist farmers," he said at the inauguration of the South Kalimantan Executive Board of the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) in Banjarmasin on Saturday.
The condition differs considerably compared to 2014 when the 45 percent budget composition for official travel, "cipika-cipika" or ceremonial activities which were less important, while the rest is to increase production.
The budget policy, added Amran, has been able to improve the performance of the agricultural sector very significant, so that Indonesia, which in the last few years always importing, is now beginning to export.
"It's only a policy, we've made many changes that can raise the degree of farmers, especially if balanced with more vigorous work," he said.
In addition to budget policy, Minister of Agriculture also claimed to have met the President to be given special policies, so that the procurement projects without having to auction, but a direct appointment.
"If it had to be auction, the procedure is long and farmers should wait for help, while rats and floods do not want to wait," he said responded with applause and laughter of the HKTI members.
Now, he added, to improve the performance of the agricultural sector, it is also quite firmly against the implementation of bureaucracy. It does not hesitate to fire officials who do not work according to the procedure and cannot meet the target.
As in the port of quarantine, hundreds of officials had been forced to be removed from office, because of work not appropriated procedures, could not reach the target, and naughty.
According to Amran, Indonesia is an agrarian country but the agricultural sector is very lagging behind.
Editor : Mahdani
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