JAKARTA - The DPR regrets the discovery of the harvest by farmers in the Gayo area, Bener Meriah and Central Aceh regencies because they lost and were not absorbed by the market. The government was asked to intervene.
"It's very sad to see farmers throw away their harvests. We hope that the Government will pay attention and take steps to anticipate something similar happening again," said Member of Commission IV DPR Daniel Johan, Wednesday, September 28.
Farmers in Bener Meriah and Central Aceh threw agricultural products in the form of tomatoes into the trash because some of their harvests were not sold when they entered the harvest. The total harvest is more than 200 tons.
The local Vegetable Traders Association explained that traders were confused about where to sell the tomatoes because the price of tomatoes at the Bener Meriah and Central Aceh farmers, which are horticultural centers, was only Rp. 1,000-Rp. 1,500 per kilogram or decreased compared to last month's Rp. 2,500-Rp. 4,000 per kilogram. Farmers' tomatoes also rot a lot in warehouses because they are not absorbed by the market.
"Actually, problems like this often occur. We know that some time ago farmers in Java damaged their palm oil because the price at harvest fell. The lack of anticipation from the government harmed the farmers," said Daniel.
This member of the DPR's agricultural commission also hopes that the Government can find the right solution so that farmers do not continue to lose money. Moreover, said Daniel, the increase in subsidized fuel prices, fertilizers, and food crop medicines have increased the living burden of farmers in various regions.
"In fact, production costs such as seeds, fertilizers, and medicines are very expensive. The burden of farmers increases when subsidized fuel increases and other necessities of life are also raised," he said.
Daniel urged the Government to find breakthroughs and innovations to facilitate the absorption of agricultural products. Given, the threat of a global food crisis is also in sight.
"There must be a solution to the classic problems that farmers continue to face. We encourage the Government to massively improve agricultural cultivation technology programs so that farmers do not suffer losses during the harvest," said Daniel.
"Central and local government interventions by building a cooled warehouse with a capacity of more than 200 tons are needed by farmers to accommodate agricultural products such as tomatoes and other horticultural products," added the legislator from the West Kalimantan I electoral district.
In addition, Daniel encourages the central and regional governments to attract investors who are able to establish processed food factories made from tomatoes not far from the area. Access to the distribution of agricultural products and a sustainable capital ecosystem is also considered necessary for food crop farmers.
"Education of digital-based marketing must be promoted so that farmers or farmer groups are able to take advantage of the latest technology in marketing their agricultural products, without having to wait for conventional traders to absorb agricultural products in the area," explained Daniel.
In addition, the DPR requested that the logistics infrastructure of agricultural products continue to be improved in order to facilitate the distribution of foodstuffs from producer locations to consumers in other areas. In fact, according to Daniel, the export market tap must be opened by the central government so that it can increase the absorption of food farmers' crops.
"The current challenges can be an opportunity if farmers or farmer groups are able to manage them optimally, of course with the support from the central government, local governments, academics, private parties, and other relevant stakeholders," he concluded.
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