Bogor farmers

Bogor farmers

From Neraca

I've been visiting several farmlands around Jabotabek area
(Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi) this month. This area is
known as the main supplier of fruits and vegetables to Jakarta.
After having talked to farmers, I conclude that their condition
is disheartening. Many farmers around Bogor can no longer be
dependent on their farms alone. This is because the cost of
planting crops is invariably higher than harvest sales. The
production costs include, among other things, preparing the land,
buying seed, taking care of the crops and harvesting.

A farmer with 30 years of farming experience in Bojonggede
district said that he could not expect much from the fruits and
vegetables he produced. The farmers' future is gloomy. They may
end up selling their land to residential developers.

I hope the government will do something about it or we
consumers could experience a shortage of fruits and vegetables in
the future.

ALI LIEM

Bogor, West Java