Harvesting on the Hambuku Hulu Farm Road

Hulu Sungai Utara — Morning dew still clung to the tips of young rice shoots as Mahyudi (36) stood gazing across the rice fields in Hambuku Hulu village, Sungai Pandan district, Hulu Sungai Utara regency, South Kalimantan. A gentle breeze from the swamp softly swept across the green shoots, gradually moving the rice leaves in preparation for a new hope for the village, which has long awaited relief from its hardships.

This scene holds a story of a decades-long struggle. Reaching the rice fields was never an easy journey. Muddy earth roads frequently submerged in water forced residents to take circuitous routes through neighbouring villages. When harvest season arrived, sacks of rice had to be carried along narrow, slippery footpaths that sometimes flooded. Sweat mixed with mud, laughter interspersed with challenges, became part of a difficult daily ritual that never seemed to ease.

Now, before Mahyudi stretched a new farm road built by the Military Task Force for Unified Village Development (Satgas TMMD) 127th contingent of the Hulu Sungai Utara-Balangan Military District Command. Six metres wide and 400 metres long, this road is far more than just a transport route. It is a symbol of hope, a bridge to a lighter and brighter future for residents who depend on swamp rice cultivation.

“In the past, we had to walk far carrying the harvest. Now it can be transported directly by vehicle. It’s extremely helpful,” said Mahyudi, chairman of the Usaha Bersama (Mutual Effort) Farmer Group Association.

Together with other farmers, he gazed at the rice fields that are both the source of livelihood and the village’s inheritance. Hambuku Hulu village is home to approximately 300 households with a total population of nearly 900 people. Productive rice fields spanning more than 125 hectares form the primary pillar of the village economy. The sturdy farm road now opens wider opportunities, ensures smooth distribution of harvests, provides safer access, and increases agricultural productivity.