Food Solutions Without Research

Land search and expansion programs are needed because food and energy problems are increasing. Most have been done without research or diligence.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Rice cutting machine used in harvesting in Bokem Village, Rimba Jaya Village, Merauke District, Merauke Regency, Papua, Thursday (11/17/2022).

Rice field creation, as part of the food barn project, in Merauke, Papua, has reaped many failures. The findings show that most rice fields have been abandoned. In addition to the unsuitable land, failures are caused by the lack of infrastructure support and farmer labor.

The condition of the soil is too acidic and irrigation channels in rice field areas have not been connected. Primary, secondary and tertiary channels are not connected. Water channels do exist, but they are separate ponds that must be pumped to irrigate the rice fields. The rice field creation programs were carried out at the beginning of the implementation of the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) project in 2010 (Kompas, 12/14/2022).

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> Food State Programs Keep Failing

Some companies have conducted research and trials, but they have given up. There are a large number of companies that do not want to meet the requirements for expanding the land and plantations. They want to be successful immediately and make quick profits.

This adds to a pile of various cases of efforts to increase food production in several areas, but has only reaped failure. We remember the rice field expansion program through peatlands in Kalimantan in the New Order era. We also remember a number of projects for the establishment of sugar factories in Aceh and Kalimantan that failed without leaving any trace during the New Order era.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Workers carry freshly harvested sugarcane stalks to trucks in Waru District, Sidoarjo, East Java, Saturday (11/7/2020). Sugar cane is harvested to meet sugar production at PG Candi Baru.

One of the things that does not arise from the rice field creation program is in-depth research to ensure the land for the program is suitable for rice plants or other plants. In addition, there is no diligence in observing various problems in the field until the right solution is found.

Due to a rush of completing the project, many have been left behind. We do not find any complete reports on program developments. Failure in a project does not need to be regretted as long as there is a clear report so that those who want to continue the research program can take lessons from it.

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> Gastro-colonialism in Merauke

> Food Estate in Merauke

We need to learn from the success story of land engineering for sugar cane plantations in Lampung. For a long time they conducted research until a way of processing the land was found to be suitable for sugar cane plants in the area. The company that had wanted to work hard succeeded.

There is no easy way or shortcuts in the food program. Everything needs hard work and patience in research. Those who truly have an entrepreneurial spirit will dare to take this step rather than just making it a project and spending the state budget.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.