Agricom.id, SOUTH BANGKA – Separating from her big family made her difficult to stay in Bangka. With other villagers, Sarkem joined the transmigration program in the era of President Soeharto to boost the paddy production.

More than 35 years, Sarkem and her husband, Syawal cultivated 4 hectare areas in Village of Batu Betumpang, Sub district of Pulau Besar, District of South Bangka. In the areas, she planted kinds of plants, such as, the paddy, vegetables, and pepper.

“I have two hectares, and the other two are rented. Alhamdulillah we could plant (the areas). The water in our village flows well. It is rarely dry,” she said, as in the official written statement to Agricom.id.

Of the areas, Sarkem continued that she could make her four children go to school (though they do not go to the university).

The paddy productivity in the village, she continued, is low enough. One hectare could produce 3 tons only. The issue that Sarkem and other villagers face is the rats.

“Other farmers and I, if it is night, should do patrol, Sir. We usually use electric wire. There was a time that our plantation was almost no more because it was hit by the rat. We failed to harvest,” Sarkem said.

But it did not break her heart to plant and plant again. In addition in the Village of Betumpang there would be paddy field optimization program within the food estate concept.

She did welcome the program and hoped that the program could increase the productivity and the capability of the farmers to cultivate.

What Sarkem and other farmers have done in South Bangka Selatan is the same with what Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo said that the agriculture should keep producing.

The agriculture in the Covid-19 pandemic is the solution not only to increase the people’s economy, but also as the main helper to recover the economy nationally after the pandemic. (A2)