IPB ALUMNI REJECT IMPORT PRODUCT POLICY
August 18, 2013: New Chairman of IPB Alumni Association (HA IPB), Bambang Hendroyono expressed concern over the large number of imported agricultural products. For this reason, HA IPB rejects the policy on imported agricultural products. It will continue to encourage the use of local agricultural products as a necessity and strengthen national food security. The statement was made upon his inauguration as Chairman of Alumni Association for 2013-2017 period in Baranangsiang Campus of IPB (18/08/2013).
Bambang Hendroyono, who is also Director General of Business Development of Forestry in the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia, emphasizes that imports of agricultural products badly harm Indonesian farmers. "The import of agricultural products, vegetables, fruits, fish, and beef is really painful to farmers in Indonesia because for whatever reason, imports would undermine the motivation of farmers to produce agricultural products. We feel sad for our farmers, it is difficult for them to prosper," he said.
As released by the Central Bureau of Statistics, the rice import alone from January-June, 2013 stood at 239 thousand tons or U.S. $ 124.4 million. Meanwhile, Corn import into Indonesia in January-June 2013 recorded 1.3 million tonnes or U.S. $ 393 million, not much different from the soybean import for Januari-June 2013, which was 826 thousand tons or 509.5 million. Wheat flour is also imported. Its import was recorded from January to June 2013 to reach 82 501 tonnes or U.S. $ 36.9 million. And even salt was included in the imported commodities. From January-June 2013 imports were recorded at 923 thousand tons worth of U.S. $ 43.1 million.
According to Bambang, it is ironic for IPB Alumni IPB and IPB institution because it has many agricultural innovations as well as its agricultural scholars, and even Indonesia is recorded to have the most agricultural students and scholars in the world today, but also imports a lot of agricultural imports.
Therefore, Bambang calls on the government to improve the quality of farmers, agricultural infrastructure and facilitate agricultural financing schemes. He also expresses the need for joint support from the industrial sector and strong political policies.
IPB Alumni Association which involves114 thousand alumni of IPB expresses its readiness to provide guidance and advocacy, encourage improvement in the quality of the Indonesian agriculture through various programs and support policies that favor the interests of Indonesian Agriculture.
"Although the IPB Alumni IPB work in various factors, but their spirit must remain agricultural aspects and have a passion for advancing agriculture and continue to strive for its progress. IPB Alumni must unite for the same effort, that is, to improve agriculture," he said.
In this inauguration of IPB Alumni Association Board today (18/8) there are 171 IPB Alumni inaugurated as the Association Board members for the period from 2013 to 2014, consisting of 115 Daily Executives, 11 Advisory Council members, 13 members of Development Board and 32 members of Expert Council. Various programs that will be implemented include institutional strengthening, empowerment of farmers, agricultural policy advocacy and empowerment of Alumni potentials. "HA IPB aims to strengthen the alumni potential for the advancement of Indonedian Agriculture", said Bambang at the inaugural speech today (18/8).
