[FULL] BERKAS KOMPAS | Program Lumbung Pangan Ini Berpihak ke Siapa?

Summary

Indonesia's Food Estate program, initiated in 2020 to address food security issues exacerbated by El Niño, has faced significant challenges. Farmers, especially in Kalimantan and Sumatra, have experienced difficulties due to unsuitable land for crops like cassava and a lack of proper support. Critics argue that the program has led to deforestation, disrupted local ecosystems, and harmed farmers financially. Despite government promises, many areas remain unproductive, and the program is seen as rushed, with insufficient studies and consultations. Environmental and agricultural experts are calling for a more sustainable, localized approach to food security.

Takeaways

• 😀 El Niño has arrived in Indonesia, leading to concerns about drought, water scarcity, and food security due to longer and hotter dry seasons.
• 😀 The government launched the Food Estate program in 2020 to combat potential food crises, aiming to provide long-term food reserves and increase national food production.
• 😀 The Food Estate project has been implemented in five provinces across Indonesia, focusing on increasing food supply and creating export opportunities.
• 😀 Despite the program's intentions, there have been criticisms regarding its execution, with concerns over deforestation and altered farming methods.
• 😀 In Central Kalimantan, the program faced challenges, such as dry, sandy soil unsuitable for growing cassava, leading to poor harvests and frustration among local farmers.
• 😀 Farmers have expressed dissatisfaction with the program's implementation, citing a lack of consultation, inadequate compensation for land used, and poor results.
• 😀 The introduction of cassava as a primary crop in areas traditionally dedicated to rubber farming has led to economic losses and environmental damage.
• 😀 Some local farmers in Sumatra also faced disappointments as promised assistance for growing crops like onions and potatoes was limited to only one season instead of the promised three years.
• 😀 The program's haste and failure to properly prepare the land and adapt crops to local conditions have caused many farmers to abandon the initiative and return to traditional farming.
• 😀 Critics argue that the program's rushed approach and environmental consequences, such as deforestation and habitat destruction, overshadow its potential to ensure national food sovereignty.

Q & A

What is the Food Estate program in Indonesia?

The Food Estate program is a large-scale agricultural initiative launched by the Indonesian government to ensure food security in the country. It aims to create food reserves by cultivating staple crops such as cassava, rice, and corn across vast areas of land.

What are the environmental concerns surrounding the Food Estate program?

The program has raised concerns about deforestation and the destruction of critical ecosystems. It involves clearing forests and converting land into agricultural zones, which leads to habitat loss for species like orangutans and contributes to emissions from land clearing.

How has El Nino impacted Indonesia’s agricultural sector?

El Nino has caused extreme droughts in Indonesia, leading to hotter and longer dry seasons. This has disrupted water availability and food production, especially in regions like Papua, triggering concerns about food security and crop failures.

What problems have farmers faced in the Food Estate areas?

Farmers in the Food Estate areas have experienced a range of issues, including land being taken without compensation, forced changes in crop cultivation, and difficulties with the suitability of the land for growing the intended crops. This has led to financial hardships and dissatisfaction.

What was the role of the government in initiating the Food Estate program?

The Indonesian government, under President Joko Widodo, initiated the Food Estate program in 2020 to anticipate food crises exacerbated by climate events like El Nino. The program was designed to create food reserves and ensure long-term food security.

Why did farmers in Desa Tawai Baru criticize the Food Estate program?

Farmers in Desa Tawai Baru criticized the program because it disrupted their traditional rubber farming. The introduction of cassava cultivation on land that was not suitable led to crop failures. Additionally, they were not consulted during the planning, and their land was taken without compensation.

What challenges did the Food Estate program face in Kalimantan Tengah?

In Kalimantan Tengah, the program encountered issues related to the poor suitability of land for cassava cultivation, lack of proper land studies before planting, and insufficient support for farmers. Additionally, the area was prone to flooding, further complicating farming efforts.

What are the economic impacts of the Food Estate program on local farmers?

The program has led to economic hardships for many local farmers, as their traditional livelihoods were disrupted, and crop yields from the Food Estate areas have been low. Some farmers have even had to abandon the program in favor of cultivating other crops outside the initiative.

How does Greenpeace view the Food Estate program?

Greenpeace has strongly criticized the Food Estate program, citing the lack of feasibility studies and the environmental damage caused by deforestation. They also argue that the program failed to achieve its goal of improving food security and may have worsened the situation by damaging local ecosystems.

What is the expected future of the Food Estate program?

The future of the Food Estate program remains uncertain. While the government continues to invest in it, the program faces significant challenges, including environmental degradation and unsatisfactory results in terms of food production. Further evaluation and possible adjustments are needed to make it successful in the long term.