PARA PETANI DARI BALIK KABUT - Ekspedisi Indonesia Biru #10

Summary

The video follows a team of filmmakers documenting the lives of farmers and followers of Sedulur Sikep (Samin) in Central Java, who are resisting land exploitation by the cement industry. The journey takes them through various locations, including the village of Ranupani near Mount Semeru, where farmers cultivate potatoes. The narrative delves into the struggles of local farmers dealing with imported goods affecting their livelihood and the government's push to transform the area into a tourist village. The film explores the economic realities of farmers and the impact of tourism versus agriculture on their wellbeing.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script focuses on the journey to document the lives of farmers and followers of Sedulur Sikep (Samin community) in Central Java, defending their land against the cement industry.
• 😀 The crew encountered challenges during their travels, including a motorbike losing its fuel indicator, which caused some delays in their trip.
• 😀 They visited the Tengger community around Mount Semeru in East Java, but not all places of interest could be visited.
• 😀 The crew arrived in Ranupani, a village 2100 meters above sea level, where they recorded the activities of farmers involved in potato cultivation.
• 😀 A local middleman named Yonathan was buying potatoes from the villagers for Rp25 million, with an estimated yield of 5 tons of potatoes, which equates to a price of Rp5000 per kilogram.
• 😀 The arrival of imported potatoes from Bangladesh and India posed a problem for local farmers, as these cheaper potatoes disrupted the market, with prices dropping to Rp4000 per kilogram.
• 😀 Despite the market challenge, Ranupani's farmers preferred local varieties, such as the Granola potatoes, which were more suitable for specific regions like Kalimantan.
• 😀 The potatoes harvested in Ranupani were sold to a wholesaler for Rp6500 per kilogram, highlighting the importance of the local agricultural economy.
• 😀 Interestingly, farmers in Ranupani prefer to be paid in cash rather than through bank transfers, with payments being made directly on the farm.
• 😀 The economic narrative also discussed the broader historical context of Ranupani’s agricultural success, including the decline of garlic cultivation due to imported garlic in the mid-1990s. The village now primarily survives on farming, with tourism being secondary.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the documentary in the script?

The documentary focuses on the lives of farmers and followers of the Sedulur Sikep community in Central Java, specifically in the areas of Pati and Rembang, who are defending their land against the cement industry. It also explores the economic challenges of farming, particularly the impact of imported goods like potatoes.

What challenges do the farmers in Ranupani face regarding potato farming?

Farmers in Ranupani struggle with the competition from imported potatoes, particularly those from Bangladesh and India, which are sold at lower prices and disrupt local markets. Despite this, the local potatoes are of higher quality, though they are priced higher, making them less competitive in some markets.

How are the farmers in Ranupani compensated for their crops?

Farmers in Ranupani are paid directly in cash for their crops, bypassing bank transfers. A middleman, known as Yonathan, negotiates prices and helps with the sale, with farmers receiving approximately Rp6,500 per kilogram for their potatoes.

What is the significance of Ranupani's location?

Ranupani is located at an altitude of 2,100 meters above sea level, in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. This makes it a unique area with a specific climate and soil that supports potato farming, particularly for varieties like Granola and Lembang.

What is the economic role of tourism in Ranupani?

While Ranupani is visited by tens of thousands of Semeru climbers every year, the primary source of income for the village is still agriculture. Tourism serves as a supplementary source of income, and the local government is aiming to shift the village's focus towards tourism, though the farmers are concerned about this change.

How do the local farmers feel about the government’s push towards tourism?

The farmers are concerned that the government's push to transform Ranupani into a tourist destination will negatively impact agriculture, as the land area for farming is limited and will not expand to accommodate both tourism and farming needs.

What happened to the village's previous agricultural success with garlic?

The village of Ranupani once thrived from garlic farming, but the local garlic industry collapsed after the importation of garlic from abroad, starting in 1995, which flooded the market and made it difficult for local farmers to compete.

What is the significance of the Sedulur Sikep community in the region?

The Sedulur Sikep community, or the Samin community, plays an important cultural and social role in defending their land against industrial development. They represent a resistance to the encroachment of large industries like cement, standing firm in protecting their ancestral lands.

Why did the documentary focus on interviewing Yonathan, the middleman?

The documentary wanted to explore the economic conditions of the farmers and their interactions with middlemen like Yonathan. By interviewing him, they hoped to understand the pricing dynamics of potato farming and the role of middlemen in the agricultural economy.

What is the broader social issue highlighted by the documentary?

The documentary highlights the tension between agricultural sustainability and industrial development, as well as the struggles of local farmers who are caught between global economic forces, such as the importation of cheaper goods, and their traditional way of life.