Farm Reconstruction and Rehabilitation after Merapi Great Eruption

in Sleman District, DIY

Fatkhiyah Rohmah, Lestari Rahayu Waluyati, Any Suryantini,
Jangkung Handoyo Mulyo
Abstract
Salacca fruit is a type of superior commodity of Sleman Districts which has 2.500 ha planted
area. Salacca has been marketed both of locally or nationally and even internationally. In October 25 th,
2010 there was the incident of Merapi Volcano great eruption, it has caused huge damaged to
plantations of salacca about 73% of population and has significantly decreased salacca production and
the export quantity. The aim of this research was to identify the business partner and to assess whether
they will give contribution during the reconstruction and rehabilitation after Merapi eruption
especially for salacca farmers. The sampling areas were three salacca producer sub-districts with the
worse impacts caused by eruption, namely Turi, Pakem, and Tempel. Purposive sampling method was
used in this research to define the respondents and the information was collected by discussion and
interview with the farmers, sellers, and government.
The research results showed that the main business partner of the salacca farmers were sellers
and government. The sellers have been helping farmers for business activities and government help
them by making some regulations and policies to support those activities not only in the normal
situations but also in the certain situation such as at the time of natural disaster like eruption.
Government represented by Ministry of Agriculture in a collaborating with National Disaster
Management and Local Disaster Management made some labour intensive program (Program Padat
Karya) suddenly after Merapi great eruption. Farmers whose the plants were destroyed by volcanic
dust were empowered to clean their plants in order to make rehabilitation process. Government also
provided seed and fertilizer in a package for farmers. Unfortunately, there were un-useful seeds
because the plants have their own recovery system, and farmer just need to cut the damaged leaves.
Farmers who had already planted the seeds felt disappointed because they had to waiting for a long
time. Thus, it can be concluded that the assistance provided by business partner- in this casegovernment, so far has no effective impact.
Keywords: Merapi eruption; Salacca value chain; rehabilitation; governments policies