iip albanjary

I agree with argument on the development of biofuel threatening Indonesia food security. It happen mainly through land conversion. In the next decades, biofuel crops will dominate agricultural land and decreasing forest land.

Today I read a 2006 publication on agricultural land conversion. It says that the accelerating rate of conversion of agricultural lands in mainly caused by very low incentives to work in agriculture compared to industrial and service sectors. I try to link it with biofuel development.

Commodity price is significant factor in all agricultural bussines. Increasing demand of biofuel lead to the higher price. Thus, farmers will change their commodity to biofuel crops. Biofuel crops seems attractive, but we need to consider about its economic scale. In which land the biofuel crops plantation will economically feasible?

Biofuel crops plantation may feasible in outside java. Oil palm plantations show obvious evidence. Some publications also show about the environmental impacts of oil palm plantation expansion.

And, talking about food security it’s not about land an sich. Food could be physically available, but how about the price? We must make sure that we have good food with affordable price. ~

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“We will create one million new jobs in West Java,” said a candidate of local election in a campaign in Bogor. People of West Java province will elect a new governor on April 13, 2008.

I wonder how the candidate will implement his program. One million is not a small number, and you should consider a lot facts of economic indicators. I assumed that the candidate have oversight about population, agricultural-based economic, small enterprises and natural resources management.

West java province has million population engaged in agricultural based activities. But not all agricultural matters are handled by provincial government. Some authorities are shared with Agricultural Department, main food distributor stated-owned company of Bulog and other agencies. And who’s decide the amount of fertilizer subsidy?

It’s difficult to say that generating new jobs in agricultural-based province can be done by provincial government only. Last but not least, Indonesia has creating several policies that lead to low incentives situation of agricultural works, compared to industrial and services sectors. People tend to sell their paddy land, and work as a labor in another sectors.

I hope the candidate will find the new attracting words.