Indonesia’s 20% Budget Increased For Agricultural R&D

 Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the Indonesian government has increased to 20% the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) to be granted for Agricultural Research and Development. Furthermore, he pointed out that seven non-rice main food commodities should be developed such as wheat, soybean, chicken meat and egg in order to release Indonesia from a “food trap” made by developed countries and global capitalism. These seven commodities currently vary depending on import products.

This next year’s budget increase is aimed to improve the capacity of Indonesian human and natural resources to play important roles in the agricultural sector. Technological innovations in the agricultural sector are currently playing a strategic role in increasing food production despite shrinking farmland area. Indonesian universities are also encouraged to support the Government’s program for local food sustainability and global food competitiveness.

For more details visit: http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2008/09/02/00395277/wapres.akui.riset.pertanian.masih.lemah or contact Dewi Suryani from the Indonesian Biotechnology Information Center at dewisuryani@biotrop.org.