Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, Prof. Ir. Triwibowo Yuwono, assessed the need to change the mindset for the betterment of agricultural sector as the government has not shown enough attention to this sector so far. Policy formulators are necessary to be encouraged in this field. The budget allocated to agricultural sector is still very small and not comparable to that for other sectors, such as education. Agriculture should get special attention.
"Therefore, budget for food sector needs to be increased and politically this needs to be put in the amendments to the 1945 State Constitution," he said, Friday (9/10), at UGM, ahead of World Food Day on 12 October.
Triwibowo said that beside this issue, there should be a guarantee that national food supply policy is not put in the form of contracts with foreign parties, as happened in plantation sector. "Today, most of the plantations, particularly of palm oil, is owned by Malaysia. This could also spread to agricultural sector later on, "he added.
The Dean of Faculty of Agriculture stated that early introduction of food diversification is needed. Food diversification should be implemented based on local foods. "That can be done through education, through early childhood education so that they know that the food does not constitute rice alone," he concluded.