Indonesia

Rice Cultivation in Indonesia

Imade Chakra

One of the main things I remember about growing up in the rice paddies is the food. There was enough food all year round and a lot a variety. In the rice paddies there was so much life and it was so much fun. Life in the rice paddies is different today, the paddies are not home to the same life and the rice crop of many farmers is dying.

When I was young my family used to go the rice fields for all types of food. During the day we would work in the rice fields, then during the night we would go to collect frogs, eels, snails and insects. My mum loved it! I remember we would go for one hour with lamps and catch eels and snails, easily filling the traditional baskets held on our backs. After just one hour it was full, now I go for three hours and I get nine eels. I spend forever just looking around.

Chakra's Organic Seed Garden (Photo: IDEP)

The Green Revolution has changed many things here in Bali and in Indonesia . Since the 1970s, most farmers here have been using hybrid seeds and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. For the first years, the yields of rice were very high. Many farmers still talk about this time and that's why I think they still use the chemicals and hybrid seeds. This year however (2006), I will be surprised if the farmers make enough to cover their costs. All over Bali , yields have been very low and they continue to have to pay the companies for seeds and chemicals.

I think one of the main problems is that the farmers are poorly educated and that they never complain. For example, when the harvest is bad they never speak of blaming the chemical companies or the government. They just say it is bad luck. Many farmers also fear change as they have been using hybrid paddy for decades now. What they forget is that before the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, the land here was so rich.

Nowadays, many of the farmers find it difficult to make a living. I'm tired of telling my neighbours the theory. I'm going to show it to them. I am going to develop a living organic project here, and then we can survive with healthier food and a healthier environment. I think it's the best way.

View an image gallery of Chakra's organic seed garden

About IDEP

Yayasan IDEP is an Indonesian non-profit foundation that was formally established in Bali , Indonesia in 1999, at the height of Indonesia 's economic crisis. IDEP's objective was to respond to urgent needs for sustainable food production and resource management, while conveying the importance of environmental education for sustainable living.