Indonesia's Central Bureau of Statistics recorded agricultural export values of only US$3.4 billion in 2016, an 8.1 percent decrease compared to the previous year's US$3.7 billion. This downward trend continues the sharp 36 percent drop in agricultural exports in 2015. This is in contrast to 2014, when agricultural exports reached US$5.8 billion, the highest point since 2010.
On his personal website, economist Faisal Basri commented on the government's agricultural policies. According to Basri, many governments support their agricultural sectors to bolster exports. However, in Indonesia, agricultural exports have declined. Currently, the government is intensifying efforts to boost rice production, even proposing the involvement of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in rice farming. The TNI will encourage farmers to immediately replant rice after harvest to maintain continuous rice production.
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