Yogyakarta - Chairman of the Community Empowerment Board of PP Muhammadiyah, Said Tuhuleley expressed that uncontrolled imports of foodstuffs and difficulty of farming in Indonesia, as well as the decline of agricultural productivity due to policies that was not pro-farmer Indonesia, Muhammadiyah should be on the agenda in the fight against these policies. It was due to number of agricultural sectors which still remains life foundation of people in Indonesia.

This was stated by Said Tuhuleley in the National Seminar and Ramadan Recitation of PP Muhammadiyah held the Legal Affairs Committee and Tajdid as well as Cadre Education Council, at the University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Ring Road West Avenue, Kasihan Bantul, on Sunday (08/07/2011). "All the (agricultural problems) boil down to government policies that are not pro-Indonesian farmer, we’re fed up with import policy that harms our farmers, so subject to change firstly is the policy,” he said. One of Indonesian economist who is also the speaker, Hendri Saparini agreed that Indonesia government policies tended to benefit the importers and less attention to the agricultural aspects of Indonesia, so according to him, whoever the leaders able to change existing policy should be supported by all elements, including Muhammadiyah.

"Our vegetable products also start to be displaced by the Chinese’, while the rice starts to be dominated by Vietnam. Even recently it has been discovered import of freshwater fish from China, "said Said. So in that case, the government must be making the policy. "In such conditions the government needs to do make of policies and regulations aimed at protecting the business actors in Indonesia. Especially, UKM and traditional markets are two groups that are now threatened with flood of products from China to Indonesia, "he said.

(trans by hm-uhamka)