Your comments on the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s warning about a possible food crisis because of bad weather and imbalances in global supply and demand.
This is a serious problem because we have a large population. Although Indonesia is an agricultural country, we still depend on imported staple foods. I wonder why the government pays so little attention to farmers.
I miss the time when Soeharto would talk with farmers in a program known as “Kelompencapir” (a group of farmers who listen to radio, read newspapers and watch TV).
Now, I just get bored seeing TV programs about certain issues. They don’t focus on peoples’ needs.
Moreover, universities with departments that focus on agriculture rarely have new research findings in the field.
Iwan Nurdi
Kudus, Central Java
Don’t import food! Instead, let’s try to empower local farmers and we can start with food diversification. Let’s not only rely on rice.
Darmansyah
Balikpapan
I think the key is to control the demand by controlling the pace of population increase, especially in third world states, simply because we can hardly improve the supply of food due to the increasingly unpredictable global climate.
The greatest responsibility thus lies with the developing nations who have the highest population in the world, and that includes our own Indonesia.
This reminds me of Andrea Hirata’s so-called “first paradox” in his novel, Edensor.
People in advanced nations who are relatively wealthier with strong government social support tend to avoid having children.
In a double contrast, Indonesians struggling just to make a living with poor government social support keep “contributing” to our population increase.
Funny‚ isn’t it? More irony actually, and now the cost of living is only going to increase with the looming food crisis.
Ignatius AW
Jakarta
The government must give more attention to our farmers all over Indonesia.
All Indonesians must help them by consuming their products.
Maryono Fronpid
Jakarta
Our farmers will plant food crops only when they are certain it provides them with profit for they still have to send their children to school (yes!).
Please help the farmers as you were originally intended to, especially now with the global food crisis!
Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta
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