A group of farmers in Buleleng, North Bali declared the establishment of Bali Farmers United (SPB) on Wednesday.
This declaration also apparently coincided with the 55th annual National Farmers Day, which falls on Thursday.
In addition to the farmers themselves, the inaugural event was attended by a number of activists and legal practitioners, according to Tribun Bali.
I Wayan Sukrada, who was appointed as SPB chairman, explained the establishment of the union is to strengthen solidarity amongst fellow farmers, especially amidst a number of challenges that Bali’s farmers face—the conflict of interests between farmers, investors, and the government at the top of the list.
Sukrada reportedly spoke out, expressing his hopes that the government will help the “little people,” the farmers, by carrying out some much needed agrarian reform.
The new chairman signaled investors as being at odds with the interests of the farmers, as they ogle the island for tourism development.
Sukrada reportedly highlighted policies under the SBY administration as problematic for farmers. “If the government now is doing the same in the agrarian field as was done under SBY, then the government has betrayed the people and we are ready to fight because we consider that to be the main enemy of the people,” the chairman said, as quoted by Tribun Bali.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
