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Linking Indonesia’s Small Farmers to the Global Supply Chain
In IFC:
Ariavita Purnamasari / Novita Patricia Wund
Phone: (+62) 811891571 / (+62) 8118400438
E-mail: APurnamasari@ifc.org
/ NWund@ifc.org
In AusAID:
Sonya Neufeld / Mia Salim
Phone: 08111872365 / 08121070237
Jakarta, March 12, 2009–The
Australian and Indonesian Governments and IFC, a member of the World Bank
Group, are working together to help small farmers in Indonesia improve
their income by linking them to the global supply chain.
The three parties today hosted the 2009
Sustainable Agribusiness Supply Chain Forum targeted at potential agribusiness
firms. This is part of the Australia Indonesia Partnership’s Smallholder
Agribusiness Development Initiative to improve the livelihoods of small
farmers in rural areas.
The forum aims to promote good social
and environmental practices in agribusiness and demonstrate how linking
small farmers into the global supply chain can lead to better income, competitiveness,
and sustainability.
Opening the event, the Australian Ambassador
to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, said the conference would give people in the
agribusiness sector the opportunity to share their experiences in supply
chain management.
“The Australian Government is committed
to supporting the Indonesian Government’s efforts to improve livelihoods
in rural areas,” Mr. Farmer said. “I hope this conference will promote
critical thinking and discussion about how to increase market share and
profitability for small farmers.”
Adam Sack, IFC Country Manager for Indonesia,
said “We believe that by linking small farmers to global markets, which
value food that is raised and procured in an environmentally and socially
conscious manner, farmers and rural households will be able to improve
their income. This will help reduce poverty in Indonesia.”
The two-day forum offered executives
from emerging East Asian companies, including Indonesia, the chance to
learn from industry leaders from India, China, East Africa and Latin America.
Issues discussed at the conference included how to meet international protocols,
establish and finance smallholder systems and minimize environmental and
disease risk. Participants also talked about ways to improve product availability
and environmental and socially-responsible programs and initiate worker
health and safety programs.
IFC has made agribusiness a priority
as part of its commitment to help reduce poverty and improve people’s
lives. IFC provides financial and advisory support to the agribusiness
sector along the full value chain directly to companies and indirectly
through intermediaries (e.g. agro processors, traders, financial institutions).
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group,
creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives.
We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting
private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory
and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments
totaled $16.2 billion in fiscal 2008, a 34 percent increase over the previous
year. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About Australia Indonesia Partnership
Through the Australia Indonesia Partnership
the two countries are committed to working together to reduce poverty and
promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. This includes improving
the livelihoods of smallholders and others in rural areas. Development
assistance in this field is provided by the Australian Agency for International
Development (AusAID) in partnership with Indonesia's National Planning
Agency (BAPPENAS).
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