From 600 hectares of the farmland, its existence only leaves 400 hectares

West Jakarta Administration's effort to protect the farmland in the form of rice fields and plantations in the Kembangan Sub-District, Cengkareng, Kalideres and Kebon Jeruk, seems difficult to be realized. This is because, the existing farmland each year keeps decreasing and much land is already owned by the developer

Evidently, there were previously 600 hectares of rice fields in Kalideres and Cengkareng Sub-Districts, and now it only leaves 400 hectares. Ironically, 80 of them already owned by the developer.

Head of West Jakarta Livestock and Forestry Sub-Department, Joko Riyanto disclosed depreciation of rice fields in Cengkareng and Kalideres have generally been turned into housing and shophouse. "From 600 hectares of the farmland, its existence only leaves 400 hectares," he expressed, Monday (10/20).

To protect the farmland, he disclosed, his sub-department has tried to take over the land from its owner who sell his land. Yet, such effort is always failed because of the price offered cannot compete with developers who are willing to pay more expensive.

Additionally, the yields become erratic due to pest attacks also affected the farmers.

Similar condition is also experienced by vegetable farmers where previously they were exist in Kembangan and Kebun Jeruk Sub-Districts.