Indonesia is an agrarian country. Most of the livelihoods of the farmers. The land is very fertile. Cane planting, grow plants. Those things are often echoed when I was in elementary school first, around about ten years ago.
Currently, according to kompas.com, Bulog in 2011 received permission to import 1.6 million tonnes of rice to meet domestic shortage of rice supply and rice for national reserves. During the year 2011 Bulog has signed a new contract with Vietnam rice purchase of 300,000 tons. With that addition, some contracts to buy rice from Vietnam reached 1.2 million tons. Apart from Vietnam, Bulog also imported rice from India.
Indonesia's current situation is very different from Indonesia called an agricultural country. According Sepudin Zuhri in his article number 2.16 million farmers (in bisnis.com) states that the Ministry of Agriculture reported the absorption of agricultural labor in 2011 as much as 33.51% or 39.33 million of the total national labor force declined by 5, 2% compared with 41.49 million the previous year. This was stated in a press conference Kementan Reflection performance in 2011 on 2 January. According to the ministry, the decrease was due to the difficulty of finding a job in agriculture. Or in my opinion, the public perception that we now regard not the work of promising farmers.
Monday afternoon, December 12, 2011 ago me and my friends (John and Mas Bode) visit to rice fields in the area of Cork, Karanganyar. Phenomena that we find on the lives of many rice fields where farmers are put through bersawah activity in the afternoon. In the morning the farmers usually work as factory workers as additional income to support life. For example, as did the father Maryanto, 45 farmers in Cork Karanganyar. In the morning, he worked as a garment factory workers in Karanganyar and in the afternoon he went to bersawah to get dusk. This is done to support his family. Pak Maryanto has two children and one wife. Her first child was working (STM graduates) and his second son was in high school.
Jobs occupied by the father Maryanto farming since 2006. The new farm occupied by the father Maryanto recently. Previously Mr. Maryanto is just a garment worker. Farming land used by the father is an area of 0.25 hectares Maryanto, this land is owned by relatives of the father Maryanto own. Maryanto father and relatives to apply for the 50-50 system. However, all costs that arise such as agricultural fertilizer, water, seed and other operating costs are borne by the pack Maryanto. Sometimes in the dry season farmers need loans sump pumps to a third party but in return the crop to be divided three pumps to the borrower as well.
Growing season each year is very meaningful because it marks the start of farmers to cultivate their fields. Starting from season to season, it takes about 3 months, depending on the type of rice that ditananm well. Once the seeds before planting for about 2 weeks. During the process of growth, fertilizer 3 times. In addition, it should be done to eradicate pests such as snails, the growth of grass and rats.
Based on the interviews we did, for the harvest of a quarter of a hectare of rice field is approximately 7-10 tons. In the dry season ago, net income after profit-sharing with landowners Maryanto pack gets $ 5 million. In the rainy season can be a good sign if the rain is running fine, but can be bad when the flood came.
When compared with the pocket money I get from parents, Rp. 750 000 per month, while the farmers earn less than Rp. 1.65 million per month. Farmers' monthly income doubled but to feed a family of 4. If one assumes a person is spending money for my pocket, of course, farmers' income a month is not sufficient to support his family.However, here the pack Maryanto also worked as a factory worker and his wife also worked as a factory worker. One of the boys also have their own income.
In my opinion, for the 50-50 as it is detrimental to farmers. Possible need for government's role to make regulations that suppress the landowner with a fair sharing system. Because based on the observation yesterday, an area covering approximately 10 hectares of rice fields, almost all of them owned by rich people and worked with farmers for the 50-50 system.
In this regard, targeting fertilizer subsidies should be more on target, that is not the farmers who work the land of the rich. Fertilizer and seed shall be redeemed with money. Therefore, the appropriate subsidies will help farmers that are expected to increase domestic rice production and improving farmers' welfare.
Perhaps this little story and experience that I can take the lesson. This way I will try to utilize what I have to finance more useful and carefully. And farming might be an option because of the work before the family income is sizable enough to feed one person in solo and surrounding cities.
