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