Makassar, S. Sulawesi, July 28 (Antara) - The Agriculture Ministry has invited 1,000 Islamic Boarding Schools (Pesantrens) to develop farm products to bring to reality the target of food self sufficiency and becoming the world`s food barn.
"Thanks God, today we signed an MoU, the first in the country`s history with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) under the government of Jokowi-JK (Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla)," Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said here on Saturday.
The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the development of farm products was signed by Minister and MUI Chairman KH Ma?ruf Amin. Six months earlier, a similar MoU was also signed with the leader of the Nahdatul Ulama, the country`s largest non political Islamic organization.
Andi said cooperation in development of farm products with Pesantren is part of new history after the Ministry already cooperated with the private sector through PT Mayora in the distribution of farm basic materials.
"Thanks God the result is extra ordinary in the sectors of corn, and cacao, which earlier we had to import up to Rp10 trillion in value, but now we export. We also imported red onion earlier but now we become an exporter. It is the same with chickens, eggs , sheep and goats to various countries," he said.
Through this cooperation in empowering religious communities, he said he is confident, there would be big change in the future with good impact on the welfare of the Indonesian people.
"If the religious people rise, it would be great," h said.
In a news release issued in Jakarta the Minister said the program to empower Pesantren is a realization and implementation of new economic system through cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM).
"If we could mobilize and empower all religious people, Indonesia would certainly become a world power, a superpower," he said.
MUI chairman KH. Ma?ruf Amin expressed high appreciation for the response to the new system of empowering Pesantren through the agriculture sector.
He said MUI takes part of the responsibility for empowering Pesanren to eradicate poverty.
"Pesantren have the strength to push for development of the economy of religious people . Indonesia has rich natural resources potential to make the country a world food barn," he added.
"Thanks God, today we signed an MoU, the first in the country`s history with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) under the government of Jokowi-JK (Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla)," Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said here on Saturday.
The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the development of farm products was signed by Minister and MUI Chairman KH Ma?ruf Amin. Six months earlier, a similar MoU was also signed with the leader of the Nahdatul Ulama, the country`s largest non political Islamic organization.
Andi said cooperation in development of farm products with Pesantren is part of new history after the Ministry already cooperated with the private sector through PT Mayora in the distribution of farm basic materials.
"Thanks God the result is extra ordinary in the sectors of corn, and cacao, which earlier we had to import up to Rp10 trillion in value, but now we export. We also imported red onion earlier but now we become an exporter. It is the same with chickens, eggs , sheep and goats to various countries," he said.
Through this cooperation in empowering religious communities, he said he is confident, there would be big change in the future with good impact on the welfare of the Indonesian people.
"If the religious people rise, it would be great," h said.
In a news release issued in Jakarta the Minister said the program to empower Pesantren is a realization and implementation of new economic system through cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM).
"If we could mobilize and empower all religious people, Indonesia would certainly become a world power, a superpower," he said.
MUI chairman KH. Ma?ruf Amin expressed high appreciation for the response to the new system of empowering Pesantren through the agriculture sector.
He said MUI takes part of the responsibility for empowering Pesanren to eradicate poverty.
"Pesantren have the strength to push for development of the economy of religious people . Indonesia has rich natural resources potential to make the country a world food barn," he added.