Bali News

Worries on weakening support on agriculture sector in Badung regency arose lately as the government has not provide full protection to farmers. Focus on agriculture program innitiated by the regency government was changing every year, the latter introduced one was inconsistent to previous predecessing ones. The situation affect in disability to ensure farmers’ welfare, including quality and quantity of agricultural products in the richest regency of Bali.

Former vice chairman of Commission B of the house of representatives (DPRD) of Badung, Rai Mudiartha, said that agricultural program of Badung regency government tends to change every years. When in certain year the government put the focus to specific product, the following year it would change to another commodity. “Farmers are different to bureaucratic people in the government. They have to be led consistently to certain objective, not changing every single year”, Mudiartha – who went back into agricultural practice after is period in the house over – said.

Similar to Mudiartha, a member of Wanagiri farmers’ group at Petang, Ketut Medan Antara, said that at the early stages, agricultural sector and its commodity was taking up. Farmers were racing to cultivating commodity which get the full support from the government such as provisioning of fertilizer, seed, and even sales of the product. Unfortunately when the budgeting year left behind, the support went away. The commodity which previously was getting government support became the responsibility of the farmers. In most cases, the farmers went into trouble, allowing irresponsible individuals to take an advantage over their weakness.

In response to that tendency, Mudiartha restressed that in addition to having sufficient understanding of the farmers’ needs, it has to also ensure consistency in its program. Most farmer do not get financial assistance but knowledge, equipment, supply, and sales.