Food of the Poor

Some provinces of Indonesia are known as a center of rice production. If you ever go to a local market in Indonesia then you will notice the various types of rice, each with its own price. High-grade rice is naturally the most expensive.

But mostly of the farmers are facing the ironic situation that they cannot afford to eat it. The price that they pay for low-quality rice or medium-quality rice are increase in prices and finding it hard to even afford the low-grade rice.

Their financial situation is worse. They do not have money reservation enough and do not have skills other than planting rice, and no capital to open a food stall. So, they are feel forced, just enough to buy rice, which is then mixed with gaplek (dried cassava), tiwul (ground gaplek) or corn.

The government has actually provided assistance in the form of the cash aid program to each family once in three months, but it is still inadequate to meet their basic needs. The residents have also been provided with the “rice-for-the-poor” assistance, but must wait their turn for five months to obtain the government-subsidized rice.

Cassava and corn are a healthy alternative to rice for its carbohydrate value and has a social stigma as the “food of the poor”....