1Berita – Farmers narrate the prolonged impact of the drought (El Niño) that struck this year. This phenomenon has led to failed harvests, entwined debts, and even resulted in divorces.
Kusnan, the Chairman of the National Center for Seedling of the Indonesian Farmers Union (SPI), explained that the debt trap leading to divorce is predominantly occurring in West Java. He confirmed that crop failure, known locally as “puso,” is the main culprit.
“In West Java, the vulnerability to divorce due to failed harvest is very high because of limited land. If harvest failure occurs, they end up entangled in debt, unable to repay, leading to divorce,” he revealed on Thursday (28/12).
“Farmers usually borrow money from BRI or cooperatives to repay debts and for planting. If ‘puso’ happens, farmers sell their livestock assets, such as cows, to pay off the debt,” Kusnan said.
Kusnan mentioned that after the divorce, the former wives of these farmers leave the area. He noted that they typically then transition to becoming female migrant workers (TKW) abroad.
However, Kusnan doesn’t generalize crop failure across all of Indonesia due to drought. He only acknowledges a decrease in crop productivity this year.
He mentioned that water scarcity has led to a decline in the productivity of food crops. Consequently, the varieties planted in the farmers’ fields are delayed in growth and development.
On the other hand, Secretary-General of the Indonesian Farmers Unity Association (HKTI), Sadar Subagyo, outlined the impacts of this year’s drought. According to him, the drought this time not only affects crop failure.
Sadar stated that farmers also have to face the bitter reality of failed planting. He mentioned that the planting schedule is delayed by 1 to 2 months.
“What’s saddening is, in October 2023, there was already rain, and we thought we had entered the rainy season, so many farmers planted immediately. But, it turns out, it’s dry again in December,” Sadar lamented.
“For production, it could decrease by up to 3 million tons of dry-harvested rice. Another clear impact is the skyrocketing prices of food, and equally important, the potential decline in rice production in 2024,” he concluded.
