The taste of a chocolate bar

I just ate a bar of chocolate tonight. I liked it a lot. It was sweet and little bitter. Dewi bought it this morning for twelve thousand rupiahs or around 1 US dollar. I know that a lot of people like chocolate. It is a favorite past time snack for young and old. I don't eat chocolate everyday. Maybe you eat chocolate every week or every day.

The price of a bar of Silver Queen chunky bar is getting more and more expensive but people keep on buying it. Silver Queen is an old player in chocolate business in Indonesia. I used to read in a blog that Malaysian conglomerate bought it. So, it is not an Indonesian company anymore. It's OK for me. In today's open economy anyone can have a company that is running overseas. That's the way the capitalism works.

Well, talking about chocolate and its rising price, I wonder if the farmers who grow the cocoa beans, the raw material for making chocolate bar, live a prosperous life from their cocoa farming. The price of cocoa beans in the world market has now been the highest one since two years ago. The soaring price of chocolate is caused by the inability of Gold Coast, an African state, to deliver the chocolate beans to the world market. Power struggle in the country creates political and economic instability. It seems that the situation in that country is not improving soon.

But Gold Coast is not the only country on earth that produces cocoa beans. Latin American states and South East Asian countries also produce significant amount of cocoa beans every year. With the soaring price of cocoa at the moment, the living condition of the cocoa farmers should be better. In fact, their condition remains the same.

I visited a village in Pami region of Manokwari West Papua. Farmers there did not harvest their cocoa. I tried to find the reason. Why they did not harvest the cocoa when the price of the beans is a record high for the past two or three years. Finally, I found out three reasons. The first was that their plants have been attacked by disease; second the farmers did not have trucks to deliver their harvest to buyers in the nearest town; and the third was the price which the buyers gave to them was low.

There has to be a fair trade mechanism for cocoa beans in West Papua and other cocoa producer regions that ensure the cocoa farmers get a better price for the commodity they produce. We, as the customers, should tell the chocolate factory maker to apply a fair trade mechanism in every route of cocoa trading.

This is only my personal opinion. It is sad to see that the taste of a bar of chocolate which was delicious in my mouth was strongly bitter for cocoa farmers living in the mountainous region of Asia, Africa and South America.

Also read: Coral Reef and Beach Clean Up Activity

When traveling in Tokyo don't forget to try Soba noodle

by Charles Roring

Ask your travel agency about interesting places to visit in Japan. They might suggest that you visit the shopping centers, underground farming and even entertainment centers whose workers are mostly you men.

But it is not what I want to tell you here. An interesting feature which is good for traveler to see is Japanese foods. One of them is Soba noodle. It is made of Soba grains. It is also delicious. Japanese restaurants offer unique experience for travelers who want to enjoy not only various kinds of cuisines of Soba noodles but also the process of making them.

After eating a bowl of Soba noodle you can ask the restaurant owner if they also have or offer a special course on noodle making for travelers or tourists like you. If he does not have one, he might tell you where to go. Making Soba noodles is a laborious job especially for tourist. You have registered in a Soba noodle making course, you can begin practicing how to make it. First the noodle master will ask you to wash Soba grains. Then you will need to dry them. After that you have to grind them using milling stone. It is quite heavy. From it you will get Soba flour. Then you will need to mix it with some water. The next step is kneading the dough. It is similar to making bread. Then you have to flatten the dough using roller. The last process is cutting the flattened dough into noodles. When the noodles are ready, you can use them to cook any kind of dish that you like.

So, when you travel to Japan, don't forget to have Soba noodle for your lunch or attend Soba noodle making course.

Traveling in Japan can be fascinating if you try something different from the usual travel destinations offered in travel deals by tour agencies. If you have just arrived in Narita international airport or are about to leave for your home country try to walk around an amusement park located near the airport. It is similar to Disneyland where travelers can see traditional Japanese village built and operated according to the Edo period where electricity does not exist. You can try anything that they offer.

During this financial crisis, Japanese government is trying to promote its tourism industry. Many travel deals are promoted by tour and travel company in affordable cost. So, when you plan to travel abroad this year, Japan can be your next choice.
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Parallels - Biofuels and Mao's "Great Leap Forward"

Christopher Calder


An essential economic point that political leaders and the media have missed about the world food crisis is that rising oil prices have not shrunk the human food supply, but biofuel production has. Higher oil prices naturally raise the cost of everything that takes energy to produce, but additionally United States and European Union policies have actually reduced the amount of food available for humans to eat by artificially mandating a shift of agricultural resources to biofuel


production. President Bush's 2007 "Energy Independence and Security Act" turns food into fuel, and is reminiscent of Chairman Mao Tse Tung's 1958 Five Year Plan, known as "The Great Leap Forward." Mao forcefully shifted China's agricultural based economy to greater industrial output, a policy which caused the greatest famine in world history.


The big problem with the Bush energy plan is that the higher food prices of 2008 cannot easily lead to increased food production, as would normally be the case, because of the government mandated shift of land, water, fertilizer, farm equipment, and manpower resources to biofuel production. With biofuels out of the equation, farmers could have easily passed higher energy costs on to consumers without shrinking food production, and they could have increased food output to meet the greater demands of an expanding world population. Higher prices normally give producers a strong incentive signal to make more of a product so they can make more money. Now those incentive signals are confused and ineffective because farmers must produce for the automotive biofuel market as well as for the human food market.


Chairman Mao Tse Tung banned private farms in 1958 in his shift to communes and greater industrial output at the expense of agriculture. This led to a 15% drop in grain production in 1959 and another 10% reduction in 1960. Ethanol production is currently consuming 33% to 38% of America's corn crop, depending of whose statistics you believe, and has caused many farmers to grow corn to make ethanol instead of wheat to make bread. America is also using an ever increasing percentage of its soybeans and rapeseed crop for the production of biodiesel. These basic food products are the foundation of America's food supply, because we use them to feed our farm animals which give us dairy products, eggs, and meat. The new 2007 energy law has demanded even more of our food to be turned into fuel in the name of "energy independence," but at the tragic cost of global food supply security.


Mao's top-down meddling in agriculture was compounded by droughts and storms, just as Bush's top-down meddling in agriculture has been compounded by a drought in Australia, and a winter storm in China which caused major crop failures. A convergence of forces turned Mao's well meaning 1958 plan into the greatest famine in world history, with mortality estimates ranging widely from 14 million up to 40 million. Bush's well meaning 2007 "Energy Independence and Security Act" may take even more lives worldwide over the next few years, unless public protest puts a halt to the madness of turning food into fuel.


See biofuel facts and better alternatives at - http://home.att.net/~meditation/bio-fuel-hoax.html

Canna Flower, an additional edible tuber for people

While I was walking around Sonder village, in Minahasa highland, the Province of North Sulawesi, I saw many kinds of flowers. One of them is Canna. Varieties of Canna have bright colours such as red, yellow, pink, and white. These flower plants are grown in the front yard of the villagers' houses.

Because of these attractive colours, city dwellers who visit mountainous villages of Minahasa like to buy Canna flowers. Canna can be grown between 0 and 2,225 meters above sea level where the average rain is 1,120 mm per annum. The flowers bloom all year.

Canna Flower

Actually, Canna is originally from tropical American continent but they are found in most tropical regions too.

I never see people eat tubers of Canna flower. I read a book entitled, "Hutan dan Kebun" on page 56 that young tuber of Canna is very good for babies and ill people. The starch can be digested easily.

In todays situation where the price of food is going up, Canna tuber may be considered as additional alternative staple food for people. Its leaves can also be given to livestock.

Tuber from Canna can be harvested when it has reached 6 - 10 months. The tuber may be eaten directly after boiling. If the starch is to be taken, it has to reach 15 - 18 months. For mass production purposes, a milling machine has to be used. In Kendal of Java island, Indonesia, Perhutani, a state owned timber company, grows Canna as insertion plants among the Jati trees. By doing this, the company has helped his employees (who are the local farmers) to get additional food resources from the forest without having to cut the trees. Charles Roring 25 June 2008

Also read:

• Sunflower from Tomohon
• Nature tour in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Minahasa Peninsula
• Beautiful Flowers from Tomohon

Pig The Main Livestock in Sonder

by http://charlesroring.blogspot.com/

Besides growing clove, fruits, and vegetables, the villagers raise pigs in the pigpens at back of their houses. Pigs eat food leftovers from households, edible tubers and coconuts. Sometimes, farmers give them special processed food for pigs bought in livestock shops. This business can be considered as savings for the household which gives them additional income when the price of agricultural commodities is low.
Usually, when the sow is in labor delivering the new born piglets, the owner will suck the piglet's nose to take out mucus which blocks its respiratory system. Doing this, the farmer can reduce the mortality rate of newborn piglets. It takes five to six months before the pigs can be harvested.
Usually farmers don't slaughter the pigs. When they want to kill a pig, they will use a small sharp spear and stab it into its heart. When it has died they will pour hot water on its whole body and begin shaving its hair. After cleaning the skin, they will cut and weigh the pork into pieces. Today, instead of pouring water all over the pig's skin, they use a special burning device to burn the pig's hair. It is faster than shaving.
Most of Minahasan restaurants offer pork contained food in their menu lists such as sate babi, tinoransak, babi putar and babi kecap, and etc. Minahasan eat pork, for they are Christians. The consumption of pork is higher during Christmas season.

Minahasa, an agricultural region

by http://charlesroring.blogspot.com

In December 2006, I was in Minahasa, North Sulawesi. I traveled around the region by car for one week. I visited Sonder, Tincep, Rambunan, Tanawangko, and Manado. I also went to Tomohon, Kawangkoan, Langowan, Bitung and Amurang. I saw most of the small towns of Minahasa, including Leilem, Woloan and Tondano. The scenery was beautiful.

A long the way, I could see farmers growing corn, rice, coconut and even Jati, Cempaka, Lingua, and Mahoni trees. Trees are cut when they have reached around thirty years old. The wood is then sold to furniture and pre-fabricated home companies in Leilem and Woloan.

In Kawangkoan, the farmers grew peanuts. Roasted peanuts are sold along the main road of the town. Tourists liked to visit this town to buy roasted peanuts, dodol, and halua (traditional cookies made of peanuts and palm sugar).

In Sonder, we could see many fish ponds along the river banks. In the middle of the town, businessman run restaurants which are built above the fish ponds. When we want to order fried or grilled fish from the menu, the cook or restaurant worker might ask you to choose the fish from the pond. So, the food that you'll eat is fresh. But Sonder is not only famous for its floating restaurants. In the past, it was famous for its clove plantation. Clove was harvested and sold to cigarette companies such as Gudang Garam, Bentoel, and Djarum in Java. Now clove is not the main commodity of the farmers.

Minahasa is an agriculture region. If we go to mountainous areas, we will see various kinds of farm land filled with commodities that are useful for the economy of the people. Most farmers raise pigs at the back of their houses.

Tondano is the capital town of Minahasa regency. Its is flat. In the suburb, we can see thousands of hectares of paddy field. The small town whose dwellers grow rice is Langowan.

Coconut trees can be found in the whole region of Minahasa. It has become the driving force of local economy for years. Wealthy farmers bring copra from their village to Bimoli factory by trucks or modified Toyota Hardtop. Traditional farmers usually ride pedati, a cow-drawn cart. Agriculture produce is brought from gardens to the market by pedati. Unfortunately, the number of pedati is getting lower replaced by modern trucks.

The soaring price of fuel oil may influence the farmers to use pedati again. It is considered cheaper but slower than a car. Pedati is also a good attraction for tourists who like to travel around the villages of Minahasa.

Well, I think it's enough for now. I will carry on my story about this region in my next article.

Copra and Saguer Palm Trees are suitable as bio-fuel resources for villages in the Pacific

by Charles Roring

Coconut Fruits

In tropical areas, copra has been a traditional commodity for the villagers. Copra is the white flesh of a coconut (endosperm) which has been dried. When it is in dry form its color changes into dark brown. Farmers usually pick up the fallen coconuts in their garden.

After peeling of the coconut and cracking the hard shell which covers the endosperm, the farmer or copra worker will pry loose the meat of the coconut. Then he will dry all the endosperm under the sun. Sometimes the weather is cloudy and the optimum drying of copra cannot be achieved. To accelerate the drying process, farmers roast the hundreds of kilograms of endosperms by using shell and husk that are the byproducts of the coconut.

In intensive coconut plantation, the harvest is carried out every two or three months. For 9,000 up to 11,000 coconuts, a farmer can get between 1.5 and 2.0 metric ton of copra. One hectare of coconut trees can produce between 5,000 and 6,000 coconuts a year. They are equal to around 1.5 ton of Copra. One ton equals to 1,000 kilograms.

In the past, oil that was obtained after pressing the copra was used as edible or cooking oil. It was not competitive to make it as bio-fuel. Yesterday (16 June, 2008), the price of crude oil reached 140 US dollars a barrel. This makes the bio-fuel produced from copra is more competitive. Farmers can sell copra with better price and bio-fuel producers can sell bio-diesel in profitable price.

Kopra (dried coconut meat)

Coconut can produce sap which can be processed to make bio-ethanol. Before its blossom (spadix) changes into coconut fruits, a farmer cut it and collect its sap in a bamboo. Traditionally the sap is boiled to make palm sugar.

Besides coconut, there is also another palm variety that produces higher amount of sap. It is Saguer palm tree. It looks like coconut but they are different. Saguer tree is the local name of Arenga Pinnata (Latin) in Minahasa regency in the Province of North Sulawesi. When I travelled to this region, I was able to take pictures of the Saguer tree. For other region in Indonesia and other countries, people might call it Aren, Ampo and etc.

Aren tree

Saguer produces sweet sap which ferments fast. For palm sugar home industry, the container (usually bamboo) has to be washed to clean the yeast formed or produced by the saguer tree itself. The color of the sap or the juice is clear white. It is then boiled and stirred using small flame to make palm sugar. I haven't been able to present data about the production capacity for a hectare of saguer trees. Fermented Saguer sap contain alcohol which can be distilled to make bio-ethanol. This alcoholic drink has been banned in Manokwari, West Papua due to its negative effect in the community. Drunkards which drink the Saguer or Ampo often committed violence in the market or in their neighborhood. The utilization of saguer sap into bio-fuel can be considered as a positive alternative for traditional farmers.

So, in order to make bio-fuel, we do not have to depend on Sawit palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) which in certain regions of tropical areas are not a native palm variety. We can still produce bio-fuel by using native plants that will not severely damage the surrounding local environment.