SUKO is really a brave man. His determination to cultivate local paddy varieties left him alienated by his neighbors, and intimidated by the government’s agricultural field officers. Even his identity card (KTP) was stamped to falsely declare that he was a member of a forbidden organization. During the New Order era, such a stamp meant only one thing: bleak future. “I’m a farmer. I just want to farm,” said Suko, 73, last week.

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