Rahmijati Jahja Proposes Agricultural Endowment Fund, Ensures Regional Aspirations are Included in the Revision of the Farmers Law

09 July 2026 oleh admin

Jakarta, dpd.go.id – DPD RI member from Gorontalo Province, Rahmijati Jahja, proposed the establishment of an Agricultural Endowment Fund during the discussion of the Bill (RUU) on the Amendment to Law Number 19 of 2013 concerning the Protection and Empowerment of Farmers. She submitted this proposal while participating in the process of harmonization, finalization, and consolidation of the draft law's concept within the DPD RI on Wednesday (8/7/2026).

Rahmijati explained that the Agricultural Endowment Fund is expected to become a protective instrument for farmers, especially smallholders, by providing a sustainable financing guarantee. According to her, this scheme could protect farmers from the risk of credit default caused by natural disasters or climate change.

"The goal is to provide credit guarantees for smallholders so that the risk of default due to natural factors is borne by the state, rather than being burdened onto the farmers through the seizure of their personal assets," Rahmijati explained.

She stated that the proposal was born out of various aspirations gathered during her working visits to Gorontalo. As a region that relies heavily on the agricultural sector to support its economy, Gorontalo's farmers still face numerous challenges, ranging from commodity price fluctuations, limited access to financing, and fertilizer availability, to the impacts of climate change that affect agricultural productivity. These conditions highlight the importance of policies that do not just offer aid when crop failures occur, but also create a sustainable protection system.

"I make an effort to arrive early at every finalization session so I can discuss matters with the legislative expert team. It is important for me to ensure that the voice of the regions and the various problems faced by farmers are accommodated in this legislative revision," Rahmijati said.

According to her, the revision of the Farmers Protection and Empowerment Law must serve as momentum to strengthen the position of farmers as the primary actors in national agricultural development. The philosophy behind protecting farmers is no longer sufficient if it is merely oriented toward social assistance; instead, it must guarantee the economic sovereignty of farmers through an integrated system from upstream to downstream.

"The philosophy of this law's revision must shift. Protecting farmers is not enough if it is only in the form of social assistance; it must be capable of bringing economic sovereignty and comprehensive protection for farmers," she emphasized. Rahmijati hopes that the revision of Law Number 19 of 2013 concerning the Protection and Empowerment of Farmers will be able to answer the various issues faced by farmers in the regions, including in Gorontalo. She stressed that the regulation must provide business certainty, expand access to financing, strengthen protection against farming risks, and promote the sustainable improvement of farmers' welfare.