Many farmers live in poverty

Many farmers live in poverty

From Jayakarta

The Minister of Population/Chairman of the National Family Planning Board, Haryono Suyono, declared that Bali is the first province to eradicate poverty. The minister made the statement in Sebatu village in Gianyar. The statement was reported by the local media on Feb. 7, 1996. Bali can be proud of this achievement.

Bali's success is questionable, as Wayan Padang of Peraya Padangkerta village in Karangasem can attest. A newspaper published in Bali reported on Feb. 2 that Wayan Padang's life was miserable. He and his family live in a earthen floor house with a thatched roof. As a tenant farmer, he must toil to survive. Hundreds of farmers in other villages like Pidpid, Besakih, Menanga also live in poverty. I believe many more poor farmers exist in other villages. Is the minister's statement still true?

I NYOMAN MUDIASA

Denpasar, Bali