People representative and Bali Governor, Mangku Pastika in each of their policy should have pointed to “from, by and for people’ sake.” Government desires to develop business absolutely against the spirit of reformation. As the holder of people’ aspiration, the governor and regional council should hear people’ voices who want to develop agricultural sector fully and comprehensively. It is means that starting from the upper course until its lower course, they should get Government’s main attention.

To strengthen agricultural as well as small business not limited in the mouth only, but it need concrete step on the field. Bali establishment in agricultural and small business is based on high appreciation toward Balinese cultural. Ignoring those two sectors it is true that would stop the flow of tourism into Bali. Since what those people searched for in Bali is Bali natural beauty and its cultural uniqueness. We as well as the government officers should learn from the past. The history had given so many evidence how everything becomes ruined as soon as the government directly intervene in business matter. Business world since orda – New Order – in power had give born several inefficient and full of KKN – Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism – entrepreneurs. In other side, tens of micro business (UKM – Independent Small Business – and koperasi – Monetary Cooperative Institution –) which absorb lot of employees precisely neglected.

Monetary crisis in 1997, small business appeared as the hero moved the economic wheel. When one by one huge business felt, small business and agricultural sector showed its existence. This fact showed that those both sectors were strong enough facing the economic crisis. But until today, UKM and Koperasi are still not being able to become sufficient budget platform for the development of Bali’s economic. In spite of its huge chance to growth but still they lack of proper attention from the government. This is showed by the minimum budget for UKM in RAPBD 2010 – Draft of Regional Budget Expense –

In agricultural sector, farmer who produce raw material always in marginal position face with broker, creditor, agent, seller, processing company and may other. In industrial sector, economic actors who provide input (for instance small business) for Manufacture Company always slipped in deadly contract scheme. In service business, actor of informal sector usually had to step away since their land handed over to the bigger party under the authorization from the government.

That’s make farmer exchange rate is difficult to rise, small business actor find it’s hard to raise their class, and informal sector couldn’t make any vertical mobility. The result is, the economic growth only the reflection of lower course sector, whether it’s the seller, processing industry or formal sector. Economic growth in Bali in the second quarter for about 6.5 percents is tasted merely by the middle and upper society.

Seeing that fact, leader in Bali should revitalize and strengthen their local economic arrangement. This was based on the huge potential they had yet unearthed in its maximum cause by several obstacles, whether in term of Human resource, budget or else. Through that weakness, Bali governor need to conduct several breakthrough raise people prosperity. Advancing UKM and agricultural sector is such a right thing to do. Here there is a necessity of hard work under honesty and high moral foundation.

For that purpose, idea contribution which supported the development of strong UKM and agriculture is extremely important. That idea then should colored with Balinese culture. Nowadays agricultural sector has the lowest social position in the eyes of society. Dirty, muddy, poor and is not prestigious. That was society’s common sense toward agricultural world. When Mangku Pastika campaign his Bali Mandara oration, he tried to captivate the farmer. He promised for their rising prosperity. And now this is the time to realize that promise through the increasing of APBD Bali 2010 budget.

From economic aspect, the government still placing agriculture as subordination of industrial sector and other economic sector. Agriculture positioned not more than inflation brake. The success of economic development always measure from the government ability pressed inflation, Rupiah become strong, the increasing of economic development. No matter under whose suffering and farmers tears was that developmental success.

That policy makes farmer position as well as UKM steps aside. The policy for those two sectors looks like it was limited as “to extinguish the fire.” This fact makes these sectors fall behind other sectors. Farmers prosperity rate didn’t show any meaningful changing on the contrary it tend to decrease.

Facing weak micro and macro economic absolutely need fiscal policy which is supported the rising of agriculture and UKM in Bali. all economic activities are lead to go through that process for final result of economic.

News by Bali Post