Poor Farmer (Tuna Tani)
What sorts of qualifications you should have when you want to be a farmer in Bali?
“First you don’t have to be embarrassed to be a farmer,” comments I Made Pici-Pici Gengsi (I Made Pretends to be Prestigious).
I Made’s comment is based on the situation today where most Balinese are embarrassed to be farmers. They prefer jobs that enable them to drive around, wear ties, with a lot of money and credit cards as well in their pockets. They don’t want to be look like a farmer; wearing dirty shirt, woven bamboo hat, with a sickle on their waists.
“Being a Balinese, you mustn’t be poor or shy. You should look like a rich man, and you must spend billions of Rupiahs for ceremonies (makarya), no matter if the money is a loan from a bank. Some Balinese even steal temple paraphernalia to afford ties, mobiles phones and buy cars on credit.”
“Being a farmer, you will have nothing. And you have to be ready to be embarrassed. I don’t promise myself to be a farmer.”
Everyone nods. One of I Wayan Dangap-Dangap (I Wayan Nod-off)’s sons wants to study in Agriculture Faculty. That’s why he needs some advice from his friends on how to be a successful farmer.
Secondly, you have to borrow money from the bank,” adds I Madé.
“The cost of fertilizer, paddy seeds and pesticide is getting higher and higher. The rice price increases as well, but the fact is that the benefit of the increase doesn’t go to farmers, but to grocers and rice importers instead.”
“When you are a farmer, you don’t get the result soon. If you plant the rice today, you will harvest in 3 months. Therefore, you have to have money to buy rice seeds, fertilizer, and pesticide first. You also have spare money for your own meals during the three months when you work in the rice field and while you are waiting for the harvest.”
No wonder many farmers become ‘loyal customers’ of village banks (LPD), local banks (BPR), and renters. An ironic situation is that farmers grow rice-paddy but they borrow money to buy rice for their meals.
“It is still lucky if you can harvest in 3 months. The fact is that, the climate has been unfavourable these days. Lots of rice paddies are died. Fail to harvest means more debt to pay.”
And to enable to pay interest of your debt then you have to borrow here and there. And this will make you have more and more debt and are getting poor.
“Being a farmer, you have to be ready living in poverty all your life.”
I Wayan looks sad when he thinks of his son who is going to be live in poverty.
“Why does your son want to be a farmer? Why not a legislative member? You know, when you are a legislative member, all of your expenses are covered by government, or why not a bell-boy? Although his job is carrying guests’ luggage, but he will wears a tie and polished shoes.”
Not a word comes out from I Wayan’s mouth. His heart is gloomy. If he smoked, he might have heart attack. He is still lucky as he just drinks palm toddy so he just has problems with his stomach due to stress.
“The most important thing when you are a farmer is to own your own lands. Of course, where would you plant your rice paddies when you didn’t have any? Can you plant rice paddies on concrete? Can you plant them on ceramic tiles?”
The problem is that there is no much land left in Bali. Most of them have changed to villas, hotels, roads, malls, Alfa Marts, Indomarets, Circle Ks, even the temple courtyards have been paved, and they even wall the river.
So no matter how strong your will is to become a farmer, but what you can do if you don’t have lands at all.
