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Jakarta Post

West Java farmers going for white gold

Before the sun rises, dairy farmers have already begun their daily chores from cleaning dairy cow pens, to feeding cows and milking them

(The Jakarta Post)
Sun, August 2, 2009 Published on Aug. 2, 2009 Published on 2009-08-02T13:20:52+07:00

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efore the sun rises, dairy farmers have already begun their daily chores from cleaning dairy cow pens, to feeding cows and milking them. Another round of works awaits them in the afternoon as cows are milked twice a day. Their day finally comes to an end after they have given the milk away to collectors, who will then take it to factories.

Tens of thousands of people in Lembang and Pengalengan, located near Bandung, eke out a living in the dairy industry. The traditional philosophy in the countryside, "if farmers are happy, then their cows are happy", implies that more milk will be produced and more income will be raised if cows are taken good care of.

However, in reality, many farmers are no more happier than their cows. They live at subsistence level and do not make enough money to put any away for a rainy day. With knowledge passed on mainly from their parents, farmers must get by with limited resources, scarcity of fodder and the government making little effort to push for broader markets for their milk. Yet some farmers are fighting against those odds and making it, treading down an unbeaten path proving they can make a change.

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