Agricultural exports recorded positive growth during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the value of agricultural exports for the January-July 2021 period rose 8.72 percent on an annual basis or year on year (yoy). The Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo then compared it with the number of agricultural exports throughout 2020 which was valued at Rp. 450.79 trillion, or an increase of 15.54 percent compared to the previous year.
Syahrul stated that agriculture was the biggest contributor to exports last year compared to other sectors. He then equated this achievement with the New Order era, when Indonesia was often regarded as a country running an agricultural self-sufficiency program. "I usually dramatize, this increase was only in the last new order. Nowadays there are also two or three times. In the Covid era, it could increase by 15.54 percent, which is extraordinary. And it generates more than Rp. 450 trillion," he said in a session virtual discussion with Podcast Nusantara Liputan6.com, Monday (30/8/2021). Even so, Minister of Agriculture Syahrul did not deny that the agricultural sector was also experiencing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mainly because of restrictions on mobilization to contain the spread. "Ships that are supposed to go from Jakarta to Papua should be 40 times, that only happens 8 times a month. This is decreasing because of our economic mobility, and that's a challenge," he said.
On the other hand, overproduction which is not accompanied by large demand has also become his concern. Syahrul noted, out of 514 districts throughout Indonesia, there are around 60 districts that are overstocked, causing negative dynamics. "Out of 7,000 sub-districts, approximately 360 sub-districts have problems. Therefore, this must be resolved immediately, just get closer to the problem," concluded Minister of Agriculture Syahrul.
