INFOKU, BLORA – After several months of PT Gendhis Multi Manis (GMM) being out of operation due to boiler damage, it continues to trigger unrest among sugarcane farmers in Blora Regency.
This condition prompted the Blora Sugarcane Farmers Association to complain to the Indonesian House of Representatives at the Senayan Parliament Complex, Jakarta.
During the hearing, farmers conveyed the broad impact of the cessation of sugar factory production, which has been one of the drivers of the regional economy.
Not only farmers, porters, drivers, factory workers and even small traders also felt the impact.
Also read: Blora Farmers Demonstrate, Sugar Cane Spilled in Front of PT GMM
Farmers' aspirations were received by Member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Rina Sa'adah.
He stated that he was ready to monitor the issue through the DPR RI's oversight mechanism.
One way is by encouraging discussions in public hearings (RDP) with the Ministry of Agriculture and Perum Bulog.
According to him, the problems that occurred at PT GMM were no longer just technical problems for the company, but had also had an impact on the community's economy.
"Farmers have worked hard from planting to harvest. The government must not leave them to face uncertainty alone," he said.
Support also came from several members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction. They believe the PT GMM issue has become a public economic issue that requires immediate attention from the government and stakeholders in the national sugar sector.
The coordinator of the Blora sugarcane farmer audience, Exi Wijaya, explained that the sugar sector has long been one of the backbones of the regional economy, with a turnover of around IDR 500 billion.
The cessation of PT GMM's operations forced farmers to send sugar cane to factories outside the region, with higher distribution costs and the risk of lower yields.
"When factories stop, it's not just the production machines that are paralyzed, but also the wheels of the community's economy," he stressed.
As a follow-up, the Blora Sugarcane Farmers Association requested that the Indonesian House of Representatives immediately hold a Public Hearing (RDPU), with the presence of farmers, PT GMM, Perum Bulog, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other related parties.
They also urged for field inspections of the factory to see the conditions directly.
The chairman of the Blora Sugarcane Farmers Association, Anton Sudibyo, emphasized that farmers need concrete steps, not just a space to express their aspirations.
According to him, the government needs to consider transportation subsidies and sugar price subsidies to ease the burden on farmers while factories are not operating normally.
"We must not let farmers bear the brunt of problems they didn't cause," he stressed. (Endah/ IST )
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