It seems that the agricultural sector in recent years have not received full attention. Should the agricultural sector is the central point of development. Our beloved country should not forget their identity as an agricultural country is superior since our ancestors. At the time of our ancestors, the triumph of the archipelago have the advantage of agriculture. Even other nations (Portuguese and Dutch) came to Indonesia because of their agricultural products (spices and plantation) are abundant. This is because the natural condition of the fertile, which is located on the equator that is rich in biological resources.
As an agricultural country, the agricultural sector capable of employing the labor force compared to most other sectors. Agriculture also provides most of the food needs of all people. Agriculture has managed to shore up the economy and national food security. The conventional view of agriculture agriculture considers solely as producers of food, clothing, and shelter that are easily measured and can be marketed. But the broader dimensions of multifunctional agriculture has not been known, or still ignored various circles, so that an appreciation of the perpetrator (farmers) are also virtually ignored.
Award to Farmers
Although the farm until now such an important role in supporting various aspects of life, but the agricultural sector is still not able to provide adequate revenue for the perpetrators. Today our farm is still part of society's poorest and often marginalized. Occurring in rural poverty reflects the poverty in the agricultural household. In 2006 it recorded a population of 24.76 million rural poor people, mostly the eyes of the search in the agricultural sector.
The role of primary agriculture is related to the national food supply. Problems related to the fulfillment of food because people defecate, then the government concerned to arrange, because the food problem as the biggest contributor to inflation. However, government intervention seems not yet fully sided with the farmers. For example berkaiatan with government intervention to regulate the price of grain / rice, with discretion to determine the price up and down, and perform surgery if there was a big market. When prices go up sometimes farmers can not feel the benefits of accommodating. As an example of soaring rice prices early last year, if farmers felt the impact on increasing revenues. Farmers do not enjoy at all, because the increase occurred during famine, where farmers have no reserves of rice, farmers and even participated affected by these price increases, because the famine when the farmers as well as consumers. Certainly that feeling is everything was speculators.
The problem of rice is often drawn as a political commodity that farmers sometimes very harmful. For example, mid-2006 yesterday, while estimated reserves of rice in certain areas is not sufficient, berkeinginnan government to import rice. Once the plan emerge, our politicians argue about the import of rice. The impact prokontra when news spread, as it did the price of grain dropped sharply, while the current harvest season, so it is very detrimental to farmers, even though imports have not performed. So the decline in the price of imported rice is not because (as is still the plan), but the result of hectic with each other politicians argue and speculate, which affects the price of grain. Actual imports of rice not to be taken negatively, if done accurately analyze both the time and was not sufficient. Only imports of rice should be directly channeled to the areas of food insecurity such as Papua and Aceh for example, and distribution do not miss the island or production area (especially during the main harvest) and harvest when the time was not, so it does not interfere with the price of the area.
Most of our farmers landless farmers who have little arable land that 0.1 to 0.5 ha farming business income is very low. In the farming business, farmers often terhantui by the harvest period prices are drastically dropped, not to mention farmers burdened with the price of fertilizer production facilities and drugs are high, so that income received by farmers is low. Subsidy means of production (fertilizers and pharmaceuticals) are provided by the government as long as it is sometimes not up or not be felt by farmers, but felt by a small group of traders and dealers saprodi only. For example, when the planting season, with a scarcity of fertilizers, many farmers who have to buy at above retail prices which have been determined. These economic pressures felt by our farmers. Not to mention the concerns of farmers due to natural pressure, a form of climate or weather is not favorable, such as the failure of planting / harvest due to floods or drought and pests and diseases.
It seems that this time luck has not sided with the farmers, and respect for the farmer is not yet commensurate and even still neglected. While farmers have difficulties because of the soaring costs of saprodi, saprodi shortages, outbreaks of pests and diseases, drought or a drop in prices at harvest to whom diamengeluh. When the screaming is still there any farmers who listen. Although HKTI have done, seems to have contributed to the welfare optimum farmers. Obviously the government is very concerned to raise farmers in a more appropriate position. The role of government due to the determination of policy, must be impartial to the farmers. Keep in mind that proper distribution of subsidies, for example given on their products, which guarantees a decent price or in the form of direct subsidies on production, so farmers actually feel the results of his labors. Such subsidies would improve morale and encourage farmers to be more productive, they are no longer haunted by the shadows falling prices at harvest.
The expression of a farmer I've ever heard say "The farmer had a dream but for the welfare of the poor in kanyataan". The phrase implied the existence of exacerbation of the condition of farmers who are always disappointed. So on one hand the government wants farmers prosper with a satisfactory price farmers, but the other does not burden the public as consumers. Determination of the benchmark price of rice by the government that increases at this time seems not yet able to guarantee to boost farmers' income, given farmers more directly related to the penebas in the field.
Actually, farmers in the fight of his life without any strings attached, with drops of sweat, solely to meet the food supply each other. Though forged by natural, economic pressures, social and cultural development with iklas still carrying out its role. It seems to instill and cultivate awareness for us all, that of the peasants we eat, with our efforts they can enjoy life, therefore, we need to appreciate the struggle or his labors. No exaggeration when planting understanding in students early on about how great a service of farmers in sustaining various aspects of life (multifunctional agriculture), agriculture should be included even in the eyes of local content taught elementary and junior high schools, especially in Java, to provide understanding of business in agriculture is a noble effort, considering the national food buffer area of Java. If the teachers as unsung heroes, the farmers during this as a neglected hero. What should farmers as heroes of life, given the farmers sustain the various aspects of life. It does not mean to glorify peasants, but simply put farmers on the portion of the truth. If our children will turn to not be a farmer, tetunya a threat to the sustainability of agricultural enterprises in Indonesia and the threat to food security this our beloved country. Planting a sense of love of agriculture in our students need to be accompanied by government efforts to build the image of agriculture in the future. This paper is to be a reflection of us all.