NATSIR'S NATURE SCHOOL

Destruction of Rice Fields

Rice fields in Tana Toraja are being sold to big companies and destroyed in the name of developmet, with the intention of making profit. Unfortunately, farmers are not well educated and do not forsee the problems that may result from selling their land. Rice is the staple food in Indonesia, and with more rice fields being destroyed, it is likely that Tana Toraja will soon have to import rice, inflating prices and having grave consequences. Sadly there is no government intervention and it is unlikely that these activities will come to an end. 

Destruction of The Sa'dang River

The Sa'dang River runs from Toraja to Pinrang, the biggest rice producing area in Sulawesi. Sadly, because of the use of pesticides and the littering of rubbish, the fish in the river are being poisioned and dying, and the water that is used to irrigate rice fields in Pinrang is toxic. Construction companies are also paying local people to remove sand and rocks from the river, causing the river to widen and become increasingly and dangerously shallow. With the water level of the river lowering, we are creating what will be a disaster. Unfortunately, there is no government intervention here either, and it will likely be too late before people realise the consequences of their actions.

Pesticides

The use of pesticides is destroying our environment by poisoning our plants and animals, intoxicating our water and food, and in turn harming our own health. Since the introduction of pesticides 35 years ago, many species of bird have died, the fish population has decreased, grass eating animals like goats and buffalos have become ill and people’s health has declined. 

At the time of the introduction of pesticides, farmers had no understanding or knowledge of the health and environmental hazards. Companies promoted their products as time-saving, without any mention of their destructive consequences. Neither the department of health and safety, nor the department of agriculture has done anything about monitoring, regulating or educating people on the affects of pesticides. 

A farmer’s choice to use pesticides does not only affect the health of his own family and those who consume his products, but the rest of the community too. When it rains, water lands on sprayed soil and becomes contaminated. It then flows into the river, which people use to wash, cook and drink. People who have no choice other than to consume river water are being poisoned. Families have depended on river fish for generations. The fish are now dying out and those that are still live are toxic. 

After spraying the rice fields with chemicals, insects die. Birds come and eat these insects, and have consequently drastically lowered in numbers. Toraja’s biggest commodity — buffalos — live in the rice fields, eat grass and become ill. The buffalos die and the contaminated meat is distributed among people and eaten. 

Farmers who choose to spray their rice fields, infect the land of those who don’t. Water flows from one rice terrace to the next, causing all of the land to absorb poisons. It then takes years to completely rid of all contamination on a piece of land. 

Unfortunately, the government has done nothing to introduce regulations requiring transparency from companies; they have done nothing to educate people on the hazards of spraying the environment with chemicals. Instead, they have allowed this practice to continue unregulated at the cost of our health. 

We cannot rely on governing bodies to educate our people and intervene when necessary. We, the people, need to care for ourselves and care for our environment.