Ministry of Agriculture Protects Tobacco Farmers

The Director of Seasonal and Spice Crops at the Ministry of Agriculture, Agus Wahyudi, said that he is committed to promoting the performance of tobacco commodities and protecting farmers. This commitment is carried out in several steps.

"First, we have issued Permentan 23/2019 on the technical recommendations for tobacco imports. Tobacco farmers are rumored that prices often fall. The government must protect and empower farmers (tobacco)," he said, in a discussion, in Jakarta, Wednesday (11/20) .

The contents of the regulation, he said, required cigarette producers who want to import raw materials to absorb domestic tobacco production. The amount of absorption is twice the amount of imports submitted.

"Submitting 100, realizing 100, then he has the obligation to absorb domestic tobacco twice. This is important so that all domestic production of tobacco needed for the domestic tobacco products industry can be guaranteed," he said.

"The two farmers can be bought tobacco. Because of our still deficit balance sheet," added Agus.

The government will also set minimum and maximum prices for each type of tobacco in various regions. Related to this plan, his party has partnered with a number of universities.

"We have collaborated with universities to survey how much each type of tobacco actually costs, later added profit is the minimum price that must be purchased by the factory," he explained.

"But it must be a maximum price if during a crisis the price is high, the maximum price must be set," he said.