Our farmers' lot

From Kompas

As an agricultural engineer I have always wondered why our farmers, especially those who toil in the rice fields, live in such dire poverty. After all, their lots of land are pretty large.

The article published in Kompas on Aug.5 answers that question, for which I am grateful because it exposes the problems our farmers face and brings them to the attention of us all. My hope is that the government will do the best it can to improve the welfare of our farmers so that they can live decently. It can do no harm for big business to assist those farmers by setting aside a part of their profits. Without our farmers we may not able to survive because it is they who work the rice fields and produce food for our daily sustenance.

AGAM K. ZEBUA

Medan, North Sumatra