Text your say: Tempeh producers go on strike

Paper Edition | Page: 7

Your comments about the strike by producers of tempeh (soybean cake) and tofu since Wednesday, protesting against the government’s “sluggish response” to their demand that soybean prices be brought down:

Healthy diet: A tempeh maker mixes soybeans and yeast as part of the process to produce the Indonesian indigenous staple in his house in Bandung, West Java, on July 27. JP/Arya Dipa

Indonesia, grow your own rice and soybeans. It’s simple; the country has plenty of land and people to supply an export market.

Indonesia is importing too much staple food, such as rice and soy. Manage things properly and we could grow and export theses staples.

But I forgot the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) is involved in rice imports. Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), are you on to it?

Baz

“Imported soybeans cost less than those locally produced, which sell for about Rp 9,000 (95 US cents) per kilogram.”

The same is true for many agricultural products which should/could be locally produced in greater quantities, but “slick” trade agreements to import the products continue to punish the farming industry, therefore pushing citizens of this nation into unemployment and further poverty.

Andy

This tragedy shows the limited coordination among ministries. In my opinion, Indonesia has adequate land to be cultivated. Therefore, we have to focus on land tenure.

Heru

The price instability has something to do with the failure of the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry in fostering tofu and tempeh cooperatives in Indonesia, many of which have gone bankrupt due to corrupt managers.

Surachman
Bogor

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