Farmers’ Persistence in Face of Irony

With patience and innovation, farmers in Sukajadi village of Wado district, Sumedang regency, cultivate hanjeli (Job’s tears). They face several challenges in contributing to food security for the country.

Kompas/Tatang Mulyana Sinaga

Sutarya, 71, tends to his crop of hanjeli (Job’s tears) on Sunday (25/2) on his farm in Sukajadi village, Wado district, Sumedang regency, West Java. The local villagers are cultivating hanjeli to reintroduce the food crop, which was once a staple food in West Java.

With patience and innovation, farmers in Sukajadi village of Wado district, Sumedang regency, West Java, cultivate hanjeli (Job’s tears). They face several challenges in contributing to food security for the country.

Sutarya, 71, had a bright expression on his face as he looked over the garden behind his house. The garden was planted with corn and hanjeli, or Job’s tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), the plant that transports Sutarya back to a time20 years.