Bali Farmers Need Government Attention

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The government should pay more attention to farmers practicing the Subak system, a traditional farming and irrigation system peculiar to the island resort of Bali, according to an academician.

"The farmers in Bali need serious attention from the government after UNESCO's decision to include the Subak traditional irrigation system in the World Cultural Heritage list," Prof I Wayan Windia MS of Udayana University stated here on Monday.

Subak is a social organisation of farmers who regulate irrigation during the cultivation of paddy on Bali island.

"The farmers under the umbrella of Subak organisation in Bali have been marginalised and, therefore, the government should do something to preserve the Subak traditional system," said Windia, who is also the secretary of the World Cultural Heritage planning and proposal team.

He expressed hope that the central, provincial, and district governments would give the farmers land and building tax relief to help them maintain their traditional system.(IGT/T007)