January 31, 2024
JAKARTA – Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka revealed the possibility of discontinuing the Farmer’s Card (Kartu Tani) program if he and Prabowo Subianto won the 2024 election during his visit to a farming community in Tegal regency, Central Java.
“We have a plan to eliminate the Farmer’s Card. We don’t want to inconvenience farmers. We don’t want the fertilizer subsidies to miss the target,” he told farmers at the Gibran Mendengar (Gibran Listens) event in the Tegal regency seat of Slawi on Monday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Kartu Tani was launched by the Agriculture Ministry in 2016 for farmers on Java Island before being expanded to farmers across the country.
“[We’ve had] a lot of feedback on fertilizer issues, about the Farmer’s Card. Many are hoping that the card will be eliminated. Is that what you all hope for? We will evaluate it later,” he said, as quoted by kompas.com.
The Surakarta mayor said that during the vice presidential debate on Jan. 21, he had emphasized the importance of fertilizer subsidies reaching the intended targets.
“That’s why during the debate I said about the importance of building a fertilizer factory to solve the problem,” he said.
Gibran also received inputs from fishermen in the regency.
“As for issues related to fishermen, such as the issue of measured fish catches, which has been postponed; tax issues, licensing issues and other matters, will be reevaluated to avoid complications,” Gibran told the fishing communities during the same dialogue event.
After leaving Tegal, Gibran continued his journey to the neighboring Brebes regency to meet onion farmers and Prabowo-Gibran volunteers.
Besides talking about evaluating the Farmer’s Card, Gibran promoted the free lunch program during his Brebes campaign event. He said that it was a long-term investment to prepare a healthy and intelligent generation.
“I ask for your support for the free lunch program for children. We consider our free lunch program as an investment for the future to prepare a strong and smart younger generation,” Gibran during a campaign rally in Wanasari district, Brebes regency.
In implementing the free lunch program, he said the government would empower small and medium-sized culinary enterprises.
“The budget for the free lunches should not be seen as an expense but as an investment, a stimulus,” he said.
“There will be stalls, local eateries and catering services involved in this program, so everyone will get the benefits.”