Farmers' welfare an issue worthy of action

Limantina Sihaloho, Simalungun, North Sumatra

My parents are farmers in a village named Urung Panei, Simalungun. Luckily, they don't have to rent land to farm; they own the land themselves. As we know, there are many farmers especially in Java who do not own any land, they have to rent or they have simply become labors for others. In Indonesia, it is not a secret that the government has never been serious in supporting farmers, even though, 70 percent of Indonesians are farmers, as mentioned by Benget Simbolon in his article (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 28).

Before the regental election in Simalungun, for example, one of the candidates, on his campaign day promised that the prices of fertilizers would be lower and affordable for farmers in Simalungun if he won the election. It was a funny promise to make as the government has no power to control fertilizer prices.

There are many different opinions on how to support our farmers. Almost all of our political parties, during their campaigns, gain support through clever promises. However, the majority of our farmers are still poor, economically, politically and socially.

If 70 percent of the population comprises farmers, why is there not a party that serves their interests? Imagine, if just 50 percent of our farmers become members of this party, what a significant bargaining position they would hold.

The government has systematically marginalized farmers. It promises much without concrete action to support farmers. Who cares for our farmers in villages all over this archipelago? Just like in my village, Urung Panei, these farmers have to survive on their own. Chemical fertilizers have been creating a lot of problems both for humans and the environment.

Nowadays, it is quite difficult to be a farmer. They have to buy more and more chemical fertilizers and protectors for their crops, otherwise, they will harvest nothing. Chilies, tomatoes, and others vegetables are not easy to cultivate. As the saying goes in my village, "growing tomatoes is like taking care of a newborn baby". Ten or 20 years ago things were different. Farmers used less fertilizers and chemical substances for farming.

I have witnessed how farmers, just like my parents, often have no option but to surrender themselves to the market rules. They must buy expensive fertilizers but sell their products for low prices. They cannot argue over fertilizer prices, nor can they price their own crops. Buyers and the market decide selling prices.

Once, I decided to check the prices of fruits and vegetables in Carrefour Hypermarket in Medan. The prices were double -- or higher -- than the prices in the local market, Pajak Sore, in Padang Bulan. Our farmers sell their produce for less than a quarter of the Carrefour prices.

It is Carrefour that is benefiting. People in the middle- to high-income bracket, it seems to me, prefer to buy from Carrefour than Pajak Sore. We make the rich become richer and the poor become poorer.

Are we going to stand by while our farmers remain powerless and poor? If Japan, South Korea, America and other countries -- their governments and citizens -- can protect and support their farmers, why don't we? Concern alone is not enough. We need to act together, as individuals, communities and a nation. We need real action, not just attention.

The writer is the daughter of a farmer. She can be reached at limantina_sihaloho@yahoo.co.uk.