This is a comment on an article titled "Indonesia needs to integrate the agriculture sector: Minister," (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 16).
This sector is the most important to the nation and the people. Indonesia, has vast fertile land with many islands still unexplored. How good is land, if it is not cultivated? Why is it not cultivated? Why are farmers not moving into cultivation?
All these questions must be answered. Farmers should get a good portion of earnings for their hard work. Farmers must be respected, and not treated as low-class citizens. Enhance their image, look into the benefits of being a farmer, and give them priorities, in schools, hospitals and front row seats at gatherings. No farmer wants his children to become farmers after attending school. I do not want to think that a farmer will dream of his children becoming farmers. He wants them to be in the city earning a high income and wearing clean clothes.
If all farmers think this way, where are we going to get our food and vegetables? I am in the field of agriculture; I listen to many old farmers and what they expect. Many want to give up once their children get a job in the cities or towns. They just want to grow some vegetables for their daily requirements and a small portion of their land for growing rice.
This attitude is not good for the future. Farmers from far away islands, are facing problems for their products compared to land-based Java and Sumatra, where most of the products are transported on trucks. When diesel prices went up, their freight charges shot up, making local transportation by ship more expensive than international carriers.
For example, the freight charges, from Surabaya to Samarinda (two days sailing) is Rp 9 million, compare that to the freight charges from Surabaya to Jebel ali in Dubai (15 days sailing) that are also Rp 9 million.
The government must look into the movement of freight charges and the cost incurred in transportation. When produce collectors have to incur high costs, farmers will eventually receive lower price as there is no motivation to grow. Suggestion: find ways to recognize farmers and make them important people in the county. Look into incentives for farmers who are utilizing their land for cultivation.
Provide subsidies for farm machineries (in India the subsidy is 70 percent for farm machinery and irrigation equipment). Conduct, regular monthly meetings in small towns to share new developments in agriculture. Share with them the demand and supply required locally and internationally.
Identify leading farmers from provinces and give them awards during National Day celebrations. The best farmer in the provinces should receive a special award from the President. These are just a few ideas, but there are many.
The nation will run short of food products if farmers are not taken care of in the future. Indonesia, is commanding the number one position, as the exporter of finished food products and this position has to be maintained. It is the responsibility of every person in Indonesia, to be involved. So, let us recognize them. Motivation starts like this: select a day in January and call it The Farmer Day. God bless all of us.
Suppa
Surabaya
