BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Productivity of paddy in the Sub-district of Kurau and Bumi Makmur, Tanah Laut, fell by 70 percent, even more than that during the harvest season this year, Antaranews reported.
Ipul (47), a farmer from Kurau, and Jani (57), farmer of Bumi Makmur (approximately 40 kilometers east Banjarmasin), revealed that in a conversation with AntaranewsKalsel during a visit to the area on Sunday.
Therefore, he said, farmers can not pay wetland rent according to agreement, two tin (tin-content of 20 liters) of dry grain harvest (GKP) per borongan (wetland size of 10 depa X 10 depa. One depa between 1,6 to 2 meters).
“Because yields much lower than last year’s harvest, so we are only able to pay the rent one tin of rice each borongan,” said Jani who has six children and four grandchildren.
He explained that the decline in productivity is due to a late harvest, when drought came first while a new rice plant extract and showed flowers and even still pregnant.
Ipul added, there Kurau farmers who previously could get 400 rice tins, but in the harvest season this year only about 100 tin. Means it decreased to 75 percent.
Then there is also the usual get rice more than 10 tins each borongan, in this year’s harvest produced only one tin, said the father of two children.
“But regardless of the outcome still we are grateful. Hopefully next year’s crop is better,” said Ipul.