DENPASAR ~

Income of farmers who are united in traditional irrigation agriculture organization (Subak) in Bali is very alarming, perhaps only equal to the income of a beggar on highway.

“Farmers who own and cultivate one hectare of rice fields produce 3 million per month, while a beggar could reach Rp.100,000  per day, or also 3 million per month,” said Chairman of the Research Center Subak of Udayana University Prof. Dr. Wayan Windia in Denpasar on Sunday.

Windia said, farmers in Bali generally have between 25-50 acres of rice fields so that their income is relatively small, especially grain prices never increased since 2012, while the fuel subsidy has twice climbed, which was followed by an increase in prices of goods.

Even the price of rice in the market rose from Rp8,500 into 10,000 per kg, but the price increases have never enjoyed by farmers, only by traders.

Learning from farmers and Subak system, then to cope with rising fuel prices it is necessary to conduct study which is based on the culture, the values, social and material so that the fuel price policy needs to be done based on the existing developments.Windia added, vulnerable social groups and the source of poverty, such as farmers and fishermen need to be empowered, by doing social and economic assistance, in order to build awareness so that they work hard and practice the education.

The farmers need to be stimulated to produce, in any form, so that when the government raising fuel prices they have goods that can be sold, in addition a good reason about why the fuel price should be increased.

According to Windia, poor people are generally located in mountainous areas (farmers) and the fishermen on the beach, so they need attention such as assisted to grow glazed vegetables, breeding and raising fish and other productive enterprises that are able to increase revenue.