KUD `Mati Suri` Pasca Reformasi, Petani Karawang Minta Jokowi Aktifkan Kembali Peranannya
Indonesian Farmers Asked President Widodo Reactivate the Village Cooperatives
Reporter : Gusmiati Waris
Editor : Cahyani Harzi
Translator : Dhelia Gani
Karawang, Jawa Barat (B2B) - Para petani di Kabupaten Karawang meminta pemerintahan Presiden RI Joko Widodo mengaktifkan kembali peranan Koperasi Unit Desa (KUD) setelah 'mati suri' pasca reformasi 1998, yang terbukti sukses mendukung ketahanan pangan sehingga Indonesia dapat mencapai swasembada pangan dan diakui kalangan internasional.
Keluhan dan harapan tersebut dikemukakan para petani di Desa Jatiragas, Kabupaten Karawang, Jawa Barat, Rabu dalam dialog dengan Deputi Bidang Produksi di Kementerian Koperasi, Usaha Kecil dan Menengah (UKM), I Wayan Dipta dan Ketua Pusat KUD Jawa Barat, Toto Iskandar dan Duta Koperasi, Miing Bagito yang juga mantan komedian dari grup Bagito.
"Dulu, semua dilaksanakan oleh KUD seperti penyuluhan bersama menjelang musim tanam padi, distribusi pupuk dan benih. Sekarang, semua itu tidak ada lagi," kata Ketua KUD di Desa Jatiragas, Suryana.
Toto Iskandar menambahkan, KUD tergolong 'mati suri' di awal reformasi lantaran UU Nomor 18/1998 setelah semua komoditas pangan diserahkan kepada mekanisme pasar yang mengarah pada liberalisme mengakibatkan ribuan KUD di seluruh Indonesia tumbang digilas pemodal besar yang menguasai produksi, distribusi hingga ke pasar eceran.
Dia menambahkan, peranan KUD harus dibangkitkan kembali setelah terbukti sukses menjadi 'perpanjangan tangan' pemerintah untuk menjaga produksi dan distribusi pangan.
I Wayan Dipta menyatakan dapat menerima keluhan para petani di Karawang dan akan menyampaikan kepada pemerintah untuk mengaktifkan kembali peranan KUD mendukung program ketahanan pangan nasional.
"Kita harus belajar dari sejarah ketika KUD berperan penting menjadi penjamin ketersediaan pangan nasional," kata I Wayan Dipta.
Karawang, Indonesia (B2B) - The Indonesian farmers of West Java's Karawang asked President Joko Widodo administration to reactivate the role of the Village Cooperatives, locally known as the KUD, after suspended post-1998 reform, but has been proven to successfully support food security and Indonesia can achieve food self-sufficiency and acclaimed the international community.
Complaints, and the expectations emerged in dialogue with Deputy Production of the Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), I Wayan Dipta and Chairman of KUD Center of West Java, Toto Iskandar, and the Cooperative Ambassador, Miing Bagito here on Wednesday.
"In the past, all carried out by cooperatives such as agricultural extension before the rice planting season, fertilizer and seed distribution. Now, all of that does not exist anymore," said of the Head of KUD in Jatiragas village of Karawang district, Suryana.
Toto Iskandar added, KUD classified as 'dormant' post-1998 reform, because the Law No. 18/1998 declared all food commodities delivered to the market mechanism, and consequently thousands of KUD accross Indonesia uprooted by entrepreneurs who control the production, and distribution to the retail level.
He added that the role of KUD should be resurrected after proven success support the government to safeguard the production and distribution of food.
I Wayan Dipta stated will accommodate complaints farmers of Karawang, and will convey to the government to reactivate the role of KUD to support national food security program.
"We must learn from history when cooperatives play an important role to be a guarantor of national food availability," Mr Dipta said.
