The Struggles of Tulakadi Villagers
The Struggles of Tulakadi Villagers
The villagers of Tulakadi utilize dry land to grow corns and yams. The absence of irrigation system leads to drought which allows the crops to be harvestable only once a year. The nearest upwelling has the distance of roughly 500 meters from the village. Even though there is water pipe that goes through the village, the availability of the water running through the pipe mostly depends on rainfall.
The women along with their children have to travel the distance of 500 meters to the nearest upwelling while carrying jerry cans to collect water
During dry season which lasts around 4 months, the water barely reaches the village which eventually renders difficulties in obtaining clean water. Consequently, the villagers have to carry jerry cans and travel 1 kilometer round-trip to collect water. This situation worsens their standard of living, from the struggles to obtain drinking water to crop failures due to irrigation problems. Ultimately, they have to find alternatives to generate better income, which is raising livestock.The Piggery Development
Nevertheless, the farm capital to raise pigs is considerably high, allowing only few villagers who are able to do the job. For instance, a one-month old piglet costs IDR 1,200,000, the pigfeed required for 6 months costs around IDR 500,000 - 700,000, and the cost to build the hog pen is IDR 4,000,000. The pig is eligible to be sold after it reaches the age of 6 month, which costs around IDR 3,000,000. However, the profit will be used to cover the debt used for 6 months to raise the pig.
A hog pen made from trunks
A one-month old piglet belongs to Tulakadi villagers
The pigfeed which consists of rice bran and sweet potato (sometimes mixed with tofu dreg)
Meanwhile, those who don't farm pigs have to depend solely on their spouses who work outside the village. The average monthly income of the husbands in Tulakadi village is around IDR 600,000. Concurrently, the monthly living expense plus the school fees for their children would cost around IDR 700,000 - 1,000,000.
Most of Tulakadi villagers have to apply for high-interest loan from Credit Union with an annual rate percentage rate of 25% to cover their expenses. For instance, by applying IDR 4,000,000 loan, they have to settle the debt within 47 weeks, where they have to pay IDR 114,000 every week.
They can't fulfill their needs due to the low income which leads them to live in poverty. They can't even afford to buy vitamins and fruits because they have no discretionary income. Moreover, they are used eat only vegetables twice a day, sometimes with fish.
Most of Tulakadi villagers have to apply for high-interest loan from Credit Union with an annual rate percentage rate of 25% to cover their expenses. For instance, by applying IDR 4,000,000 loan, they have to settle the debt within 47 weeks, where they have to pay IDR 114,000 every week.
They can't fulfill their needs due to the low income which leads them to live in poverty. They can't even afford to buy vitamins and fruits because they have no discretionary income. Moreover, they are used eat only vegetables twice a day, sometimes with fish.