Translated by Putu Semiada
RICE FIELD
If the land of Bali is fertile, why are there less and less Balinese interested in working in the rice fields?
“You are totally wrong. Who said that?” I Made Kangin Kauh (I Made Don’t Think Before Talk) protests.
You look at the ads in the newspapers. Everyday you can find a Balinese selling his land. If you walk along the village, you will see sign at every corner which says, “Land for Sale”. Some signs are made of dirty plywood, and some even have printed letters with foreign company indicated at the bottom. Some signs are displayed at empty properties, and some in rice fields with rice plants still growing ready for harvest.
Some signs even say, “This property belongs to PT. bla bla bla…”, “This property belongs to Puri blab la bla...”, These kinds of signs indicates that the properties have been under dispute. It looks like the conflicting parties suspect that everyone passing by will take over the properties. They think that they can bring their belongings with them on the way to the afterlife.
Some signs also say, “Soil for sale”. This one is of course different with the ones mentioned above, that is soil is sold by cubic meter, instead of square meter.
“I would say that the Balinese still love doing the work that relates to ‘land’/’soil’. Some love selling, some love buying, some have profession as realtors who offer ‘land for sale’ to anybody; no matter whether it is their friend’s land, the village’s or even the temple’s,” I Madé continues.
Everybody is laughing having heard what I Madé said. They think that if they keep allowing I Madé talk and talk, there will be no discussion. His opinion is always in contradiction with the rest of the drinking club members.
“You are really really crazy, Dé! We are talking about agriculture and about our lazy young people who are not interested to be farmers,” says I Kadek Baas Barak (Red Rice).
I Madé’s eyes are widened. He always gets upset when he hears the word ‘farmer’. IMadé has never dreamed having a job with more physical work. That’s why he chose ‘chess’ when he was in elementary school instead of volley ball or badminton. That’s why when he finished his school, his parents decided to have people from Banyuwangi, Java doing their rice fields. I Madé prefers a job as medicine vendor or parliamentary member. He knows this kind of job will make him speak a lot, but at least he won’t have to do any physical work.
“Oh My God, how dare you ask our young generation to be farmers under this circumstance. Do you really want to see them look dirty? You should suggest that they work in hotels. They will look more clean and good-looking in their uniforms with ties. They also will have monthly salaries. If they became farmers they would have nothing. Because being a farmer, you are still considered lucky if your income from the harvest can cover the cost of insecticide, fertilizer and land tax. What if your rice plants are attacked by pests. Worse, water is getting difficult as more and more villas block the water access to your rice fields.” I Madé further says.
I Madé is keep talking and talking as if he was a parliamentary member.
Everybody thinks that it’s not a discussion at all.
“This is what happens when we discuss about a difficult issue. Even when the young are willing to be farmers, there is not much land left as most have been changed to villas, offices. Nothing we can do about it. Say that you still have the land and are young and willing to be a farmer: the problem is that you are not the president, minister, or governor who can help them with affordable fertilizer or free the farmers from land tax.”
Well, it is our problem as no solution is possible. And it gives us a headache. But still we need to discuss.
