Tragedy of excess<\/p>\n
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) director for Asia
\nPacific, Yusuke Horiguchi, has predicted that the Indonesian
\neconomy will grow by more than 4 percent this year while
\ninflation will remain within a single digit. Arigato, Horiguchi,
\nSan, honto (Thank you, Mr. Horiguchi, really).<\/p>\n
But I would also like to thank the governor of Central Java,
\nMardiyanto, for stopping (at least he has issued the order to
\nthat effect) rice imports entering through the port of Semarang,
\nor coming by road or sea into the territory under his
\njurisdiction from other parts of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The central government through its logistics agency has
\nstepped up its purchases of unhusked rice. But it did little to
\nstop the slide of the price of, for instance, the Ciasadane-type
\nof rice, from Rp 2,250 per kg to Rp 1,800. Unhusked paddy that
\nwas sold just a week ago for Rp 1,300 per kg plunged to only Rp
\n900. The situation is now that imported rice is cheaper to buy
\nthan locally produced rice.<\/p>\n
Rice imported through Tanjung Priok harbor has reached a
\nsurplus of about 60 percent, or a level of 50,000 tons. In
\nCentral Java, most farmers have an additional burden, to repay
\nloans they have received from cooperatives. The real harvest
\ntime, when markets will be inundated by unhulled paddy, will come
\nin a month's time, and will only serve to make matters worse.<\/p>\n
It is indeed a frightening prospect for the rice farmers and
\ntheir families, who have been toiling hard this year to pay back
\ntheir loans and have little left for other expenses. No wonder
\nthat a delegation of rice farmers from West Java visited the
\nHouse of Representatives and urged the authorities to do
\nsomething about the situation.<\/p>\n
A group of sugar cane growers earlier complained that imported
\nsugar costs less than domestically produced sugar. How could
\nthey gain a "reasonable profit"? I have no answer except to urge
\nforeign investors, foreigners and ambassadors to consume more
\nlocal rice, such as Cianjur, not just Ramos.<\/p>\n
Governer c'est prevoir (to govern is looking ahead), the
\nFrench might say. After his return from Havana, Cuba, maybe
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid will come up with a magic formula.
\nThe farmers are waiting, that is for sure!<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tragedy-of-excess-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }