Former Cannabis Plantations Now Rice and Crop Farms

During the era of the Acehnese insurgency, Lamteuba was relatively untouched by development. It seemed to have been forgotten. Poverty was prevalent and the people’s level of education was low.

Kompas/Nikson Sinaga

An alleyway of Kampung Kubur in Central Petisah subdistrict, Medan Petisah district, Medan, North Sumatra, is seen in this photo taken on Saturday (3/3). Kampung Kubur is known for its rampant narcotics transactions, where users can rent “inhale houses” for Rp 10,000 (73 US cents) per person to use drugs.

Fauzan, 29, and Fakri, 49, were overseeing farmworkers sun-drying soy beans in a yard on Thursday (1/3) in Lambada village of Lamteuba, Aceh Besar regency, Aceh. Two middle-aged women were scattering the soybeans with a rake made of a wooden board attached to a long, wooden handle.

The soybeans must be dried under the sun to prevent the growth of mold during distribution to various regions. “We are challenged to produce 70 tons of soybeans, but we can only produce 50 tons right now. Next year, we’ve been asked to provide seeds for three regencies,” said Fauzan, head of the Oisca farmers group.