Jakarta (ANTARA) - Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo at the ceremony of 144th Agricultural Quarantine Day held in Kupang, NTT, on Monday (October 18, 2021).
Agricultural quarantine has always been the state’s defense for maintaining food sovereignty as well as ensuring the nutrition and quality of foods, he said in a press statement issued here on Tuesday.
Agricultural quarantine is seen to boost national economic growth—which has dipped owing to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic—by doubling exports, he informed.
“Hence, quarantine is no easy task. I personally would like to say 'Thank You' to the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) governor and district head who have seen quarantine as the interests of the state and nation,” Limpo said during a ceremony held to mark the 144th Agricultural Quarantine Day, in Kupang, NTT, on Monday (October 18, 2021).
Related news: Ministries collaborate to tighten control on fish, salt imports
Public health may be seriously affected if the country does not monitor food products entering the airport and port gates across Indonesia, he opined.
“Imagine if any pests enter Indonesia and the country does not have safeguards, they will cause problems to the health of our animals, our agriculture that is prone to them. Moreover, pest attacks can also destroy our economy,” he explained.
Quarantine itself generated foreign exchange worth Rp7.1 trillion during the event “Merdeka Ekspor” held at 17 main gates some days ago, he informed.
Such figures can be multiplied through the Triple Export Movement (Geratieks), according to the minister.
“Quarantine functions to guard the gates that save (the nation) from pests and diseases. In addition, it has also tasks to increase exports through Geratieks. We can do all the tasks through collaborations,” he remarked.
Related news: Find solution to food imports, President tells Agriculture Ministry
