After Participating In Planting Brebes Onions, Mrs. Sitting In The Hut Listening To The Farmers' Stories

DPR Speaker Puan Maharani (Doc via DPR)

JAKARTA - DPR Speaker Puan Maharani listens to the aspirations of onion farmers in Brebes, Central Java. Even Puan participated in planting shallots with the farmers.

Puan's presence in Larangan Village, Brebes, Tuesday, July 5 was warmly welcomed by hundreds of residents. When she arrived at the location, Puan was greeted with lively cheers.

"Mbak Puan president, Mbak Puan president," greeted the residents.

While walking on the rice fields, the residents also sang a special song for Puan.

"Who owns Mbak Puan, who owns Mbak Puan? We all have it," said the song interlude from the residents giving a speech.

Together with a number of farmers, Puan planted shallots for an hour. From time to time, Puan seemed to have a warm chat with the farmers.

After planting onions, Puan and the farmer sat contemplating in a small hut in the rice fields. Farmers conveyed a number of problems they experienced, especially regarding expensive agricultural production facilities (saprodi).

"Especially the price of fertilizer, ma'am, is expensive," said a farmer named Rusmin.

Puan explained that she came to Brebes to know firsthand the problems faced by shallot farmers. In particular, the plan to revoke the ZA and SP-36 fertilizer subsidies was rejected by farmers.

"We should be proud that the onions from Brebes are considered by many to be the best onions," said Puan.

"I came with the members of the DPR-RI so that the aspirations of all of you can be directly inventoried and find solutions," continued the first woman who served as Chair of the DPR RI.

Puan assessed that the revocation of the two types of subsidized fertilizers will burden farmers considering the price of non-subsidized fertilizers is very expensive. It is feared that the removal of the ZA and SP-36 fertilizer subsidies will have a domino effect on the production and price of shallots.

"We will encourage the plan to revoke the fertilizer subsidy to have an exception for shallot farmers," said Puan.

Furthermore, the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture asked members of the DPR from the relevant commission to oversee the expectations of onion farmers regarding the improvement of agricultural infrastructure. One of them, said Puan, concerns the issue of water flow to the rice fields.

"This must be a priority because Brebes Regency has contributed about 20% of national production or 60% of Central Java's production," he said.

According to Puan, a pro-farmer policy is needed so that the productivity of shallots in Brebes is not hampered. If the policy affects agricultural production, the impact will be an increase in onion prices.

"The increase in the price of shallots as a result of the removal of the subsidy could trigger inflation," said Puan.

A number of complaints submitted by onion farmers in Larangan District, Brebes, are also related to the high cost of seeds, pesticides, and labor for tillage and harvesting. Puan said the DPR would discuss this issue with the government.

"I will find a solution. The DPR will be the mediator and submit it to the Government to ensure that your expectations can be facilitated," said the grandson of the proclaimer of Indonesia, Bung Karno.