Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, October 30, 2026 at 05:25 AM UTC

Deputy minister pushes stronger food exports to boost farmers' welfare

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Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Agriculture Alim Setiawan Slamet has called for a boost in food exports through improved product quality, downstream processing, and fair trading practices to ensure farmers gain added value and sustainable welfare.

In a statement confirmed here on Thursday (Oct 29), Slamet underscored that expanding food exports should not only be centered on increasing national trade value but also delivering tangible benefits to farmers.

"An increase in exports must be accompanied by higher production quality, assistance for farmers, and a trading system that guarantees farmers receive added value from their work," Slamet said during a special event for the two-year mark of the Prabowo-Gibran administration in Jakarta.

He noted that expanding export markets must go hand in hand with strengthening production from upstream to downstream.

Improving agricultural yields, supply consistency, quality standard compliance, and product processing are critical factors for Indonesian agricultural commodities to remain competitive internationally.

Strengthening downstream processing is also necessary to increase commodity value. By developing processed products and improving output quality, farmers have the opportunity to gain greater economic benefits compared to selling raw commodities.

The deputy minister affirmed the Indonesian government will continue to guide farmers to help them improve production quality and meet market requirements.

The step is expected to open broader market opportunities while strengthening farmers' position in the agricultural supply chain. Furthermore, Slamet stressed the importance of fair trading practices to support efforts to boost production and exports.

He pointed out ongoing price anomalies across several commodities, where abundant supplies lead to falling farmgate prices even as consumer prices rise. The condition highlights that boosting production alone is insufficient to guarantee farmers' welfare.

Monitoring of distribution and trading must be strengthened to ensure a more efficient supply chain, narrow price disparities, and prevent economic benefits from being concentrated in specific segments of the trade network.

He added the government continues working to address distortions in food trading by coordinating with relevant authorities, including law enforcement agencies. Such oversight is critical to maintaining fair trade practices and protecting the interests of both farmers and consumers.

In addition to expanding export markets, the government must ensure that domestic food needs are fully met.

Creating a balance between fulfilling domestic demand and expanding into international markets, he said, is essential to sustaining production while strengthening Indonesia's position in global food trade.

"Hard work in the agricultural sector must yield maximum results. With dedicated effort, strong collaboration, and the right policies, we hope to boost production, expand exports, and continuously raise farmers' welfare," Slamet said.

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