Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo encouraged the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Barantan) to tighten any food and food products that enter through airports and ports throughout Indonesia. "The task of this agricultural quarantine is very important to provide services, maintain the health and safety of agricultural products that are trafficked from the threat of pests/diseases of animals and plants, as well as drive the wheels of the economy during the pandemic," said Syahrul during the 2021 Agricultural Quarantine Day ceremony, Monday (18 /10/2021). Agricultural quarantine, said the Minister of Agriculture, must be at the forefront in carrying out its duties as a bulwark to protect the country's biological and agricultural natural resources.
Barantan is also expected to be able to develop and encourage exports of Indonesian agricultural commodities when the world economic recovery occurs. "In particular, I gave a strategic task to the Agricultural Quarantine Agency to oversee the program to increase exports through Gratieks (Triple Exports Movement) during the period 2020 to 2024. The success of the program requires synergy with various parties," said Syahrul. As is known, one of the synergistic achievements in the achievement of Gratieks is the Merdeka Export activity which was released directly by President Joko Widodo simultaneously through 17 export gates with a value of Rp. 7.2 trillion. This activity provides new optimism for farmers and agricultural business actors to grow even more. "It is hoped that from 514 regencies/cities in Indonesia, there are no more that do not export.
All must be exported for the sake of our beloved country. Alhamdulillah, thanks to the synergy of all stakeholders, it is recorded that our coffee, medicinal plants, aromatics and fruits are getting stronger in the world market, following the swiftlet and porang nests, in accordance with President Joko Widodo's direction," said Syahrul. Barantan, in carrying out the mandate of Law No. 21 of 2019 concerning Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine, believes that quarantine is proven to be able to maintain the preservation of biological natural resources by monitoring and taking action related to the widespread issue of illegal circulation of animals, plants and their products. "I think the performance of Barantan as Indonesia's focal point for the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) plays a role in resolving issues of health and safety of agricultural products with trading partner countries," said the Minister of Agriculture.
