The agricultural sector plays a key role in boosting investment and economic growth in Indonesia. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), this sector contributed around 11.31% to Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, making it one of the largest contributors to the national economy. "This contribution places the agricultural sector as the third largest contributor to GDP, after the trade and processing industry sectors," said BPS Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti. Interestingly, the agricultural sector even surpasses the construction and mining sectors, showing the significant role of various priority agricultural commodities, such as tobacco, cocoa, and coffee. These commodities not only benefit farmers but also have a positive impact on the processing and manufacturing industries.
Acting Director General of Plantations at the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan), Heru Tri Widarto, said that the Ministry of Agriculture has taken various strategic steps to support farmers of priority commodities such as tobacco and others to improve their welfare. For example, providing post-harvest and processing equipment assistance, as well as partnership programs with tobacco processing companies to provide market and price certainty for farmers. This partnership also helps farmers gain access to technology, capital, and training. "With a strong partnership, it is hoped that the welfare of tobacco farmers can improve. The Ministry of Agriculture encourages farmers to produce good quality tobacco in accordance with market standards," said Heru. In addition, Heru continued, the Tobacco Excise Revenue Sharing Fund (DBHCHT) program is also a form of government support for tobacco farmers. On a separate occasion, the CEO of the Center for Indonesia Policy Studies (CIPS), Anton Rizki Sulaiman, emphasized the importance of comprehensive policies to support the domestic industry.
