Farmers union fights commercialization of water sources<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A farmers union criticized on Tuesday the water resources bill
\nfor allowing private companies to exploit springs, which it said
\nwould harm farmers who rely on free groundwater.<\/p>\n
The water resources bill, which the House plans to discuss at
\nits next session, would allow private companies to take control
\nof springs for business purposes.<\/p>\n
Abdul Muis of the Indonesian Farmers Solidarity Union said
\nlicensing private companies to control springs would prevent
\nfarmers from having access to groundwater.<\/p>\n
\"If the springs exploited by companies were located in the
\nmountains, how could farmers irrigate their land? Would they have
\nto pay the companies?\" he asked during a discussion here on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Several large bottled water companies here are already
\nexploiting springs for their private commercial use.<\/p>\n
Muis warned of a possible conflict with farmers if the bill
\nfailed to provide farmers access to water for agricultural
\npurposes.<\/p>\n
Articles 41 of the bill stipulates that farmers must obtain
\nwater licenses from the authorities.<\/p>\n
\"Only certain groups will get water concessions. The
\nrequirements will leave farmers powerless to ensure their water
\nsupply,\" Muis said.<\/p>\n
He also feared the concession requirement would lead to
\ncollusion between the authorities and businesspeople, at the
\nexpense of farmers.<\/p>\n
\"Farmers will suffer the most,\" he said, pointing out that
\nmost farmers in Indonesia occupy small plots of land that are 0.5
\nhectares in size on average.<\/p>\n
M. Toha, chairman of the Federation of Indonesian Farmers
\nAssociations, said the water resources bill focused too much on
\ninfrastructure projects, and failed to ensure that farmers
\nreceived water.<\/p>\n
\"It fails to guarantee the water supply for farmers because it
\nviews water just as a commodity,\" he argued.<\/p>\n
A discussion participant from the Bogor Institute of
\nAgriculture said the bill favored businesses.<\/p>\n
\"We must side with the farmers because agriculture is the core
\nof our country's economics. How can our agricultural products
\nbeat foreign competitors if they are burdened with unnecessary
\ncosts?\" he said.<\/p>\n
The bill will become an umbrella for water management if
\npassed into law. It also will open the way for the private sector
\nto become more involved in managing water.<\/p>\n
The bill is part of a program for water resources
\nrestructuring in Indonesia, which is being promoted by the World
\nBank through its Water Resources Sector Adjustment Loan scheme,
\nworth US$300 million.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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