Indonesian Farmers Not Yet Ready To Face AEC

Jakarta, April 18 (Antara) - Deputy Minister for Agriculture Rusman Heriawan said it is regrettable that Indonesian farmers are not yet made prepared to face the implementation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. Many small businesses and farmers have never heard about nor aware of AEC, he said on Thursday when addressing a national workshop on farm sector facing AEC in 2015 being held in Bandung. The socialization of AEC to government officials, diplomats and big enterprises has been limited so far, Rusman said. "They know nothing about AEC whereas, they will be directly involved in the implementation of the AEC in less than three years from now," he said. Rusman said AEC in 2015 would render tremendous effect and cause greater concern than ASEAN China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) as people and goods would be free to come in and out of a country in this region. Indonesia, the largest economy in this region should not fail to gain from AEC, he said, adding, therefore, the government will prepare a study of the strength and weaknesses of the country agricultural sector. The result of the study would serve as a reference in facing AEC, he said. "We also would ask agricultural research centers and higher learning institutions to prepare small packages of socialization that could be accepted by the farmers," he said.