Speaking of agriculture, of course I really understand how the traditional techniques used by Indonesian farmers have been a long time ago. Indonesian farmers still use traditional farming techniques in farming and harvesting. During the course of my life, I also experienced, how it felt "tandur (planting rice), matun (pulling grass), and derep (rice harvesting)" using makeshift tools such as ani-ani, sickles, hoes, even plowing fields still using buffalo .
As time went on, my age grew and the times also changed. Humans are getting smarter and able to create super-sophisticated technology to facilitate all their work. Likewise with agricultural techniques, now more advanced and sophisticated. Agricultural production tools are created to make it easier for farmers to cultivate the land until the production process. The machines for plowing fields such as tractors to machines for harvesting rice were made in such a way as to facilitate farmers in the production process.
If you look at farmers in developed countries like Korea and Japan, they are able to use a super-sophisticated farming system. They can plant in the room and determine the harvest period with the expected results without depending on the arrival of the rainy season. They are able to make and use super-sophisticated farming tools to simplify the agricultural production process. That made me really amazed. Truly extraordinary...
However, such techniques have not been widely adopted by Indonesian farmers. Maybe because the cost is very expensive. Because to buy sophisticated agricultural technology tools like tractors, it can be said to be unaffordable for them. Even now, farmers are still traditionally hoeing, planting rice and uprooting the grass still using their hands, and even cutting the rice stalks still uses sickles. Apart from the reason for the high price of technological equipment, the land is so narrow that the tool is not suitable for agriculture in Indonesia, also because most of them only become farmers cultivating rice fields from landlords.
On the other hand, being a farmer is no longer profitable. Today, being a farmer must buy seeds, agricultural medicines, and fertilizers at a price that is not cheap. All are monopolized by companies providing seed, medicine and agricultural fertilizers. Farming requires a lot of capital. Likewise, when harvesting, farmers must be prepared to be hurt, because middlemen will buy farm produce at low prices. This makes farmers increasingly suffer losses because they are unable to cover the costs of agricultural production.
Narrow land and little income has forced young people out of the village and work in other promising sectors. As I and millions of Indonesians do, leave the village, go to cities and even go out of the country, to make a living because farming is no longer able to prosper. Arriving in the city too, we must be prepared to face all the risks of violations of rights by the master. Because the master is in power and can act arbitrarily. The law does not promise protection for those of us who have no money and power.
Today's technological advances, should be able to guarantee human life to be better and prosperous. But in reality, we must be prepared to face illusions. If all are monopolized by a handful of people, more people will suffer. A bright future is only an illusion for young people who dream of prosperity amid today's neoliberal system. Organizing is a way out to fight for rights and seize our future.
Village Youth,
March 16, 2019
As time went on, my age grew and the times also changed. Humans are getting smarter and able to create super-sophisticated technology to facilitate all their work. Likewise with agricultural techniques, now more advanced and sophisticated. Agricultural production tools are created to make it easier for farmers to cultivate the land until the production process. The machines for plowing fields such as tractors to machines for harvesting rice were made in such a way as to facilitate farmers in the production process.
If you look at farmers in developed countries like Korea and Japan, they are able to use a super-sophisticated farming system. They can plant in the room and determine the harvest period with the expected results without depending on the arrival of the rainy season. They are able to make and use super-sophisticated farming tools to simplify the agricultural production process. That made me really amazed. Truly extraordinary...
However, such techniques have not been widely adopted by Indonesian farmers. Maybe because the cost is very expensive. Because to buy sophisticated agricultural technology tools like tractors, it can be said to be unaffordable for them. Even now, farmers are still traditionally hoeing, planting rice and uprooting the grass still using their hands, and even cutting the rice stalks still uses sickles. Apart from the reason for the high price of technological equipment, the land is so narrow that the tool is not suitable for agriculture in Indonesia, also because most of them only become farmers cultivating rice fields from landlords.
On the other hand, being a farmer is no longer profitable. Today, being a farmer must buy seeds, agricultural medicines, and fertilizers at a price that is not cheap. All are monopolized by companies providing seed, medicine and agricultural fertilizers. Farming requires a lot of capital. Likewise, when harvesting, farmers must be prepared to be hurt, because middlemen will buy farm produce at low prices. This makes farmers increasingly suffer losses because they are unable to cover the costs of agricultural production.
Narrow land and little income has forced young people out of the village and work in other promising sectors. As I and millions of Indonesians do, leave the village, go to cities and even go out of the country, to make a living because farming is no longer able to prosper. Arriving in the city too, we must be prepared to face all the risks of violations of rights by the master. Because the master is in power and can act arbitrarily. The law does not promise protection for those of us who have no money and power.
Today's technological advances, should be able to guarantee human life to be better and prosperous. But in reality, we must be prepared to face illusions. If all are monopolized by a handful of people, more people will suffer. A bright future is only an illusion for young people who dream of prosperity amid today's neoliberal system. Organizing is a way out to fight for rights and seize our future.
Village Youth,
March 16, 2019
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