GROBOGAN, CENTRAL JAVA — It has been three months since rain fell on the land of Padas, Grobogan. The dried-up river left only rocks. The soil is dry and cracked. This is a disaster for the residents of Padas, the majority of whom are corn farmers. One of the corn farmers, Lawiyah (63), was among those affected.
On Wednesday (5/22/2024), we, the Dompet Dhuafa Team, spent approximately three hours to reach Lawiyah’s house. We departed from Semarang City by car. Arriving in Padas Village, we changed to motorized vehicles. This is because we had to cross rivers, corn fields, and roads full of rocky climbs.
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On the way to Lawiyah’s house, Dompet Dhuafa Central Java Branch Program Service Staff, Yusuf Amukhti, shared his findings about Padas Village located in Kedungjati District, Grobogan Regency, Central Java. Padas is indicated to be one of the 3T (Frontier, Outermost, Disadvantaged) villages. This condition is exacerbated by the arrival of the dry season which has been running for three months. As a result, Dompet Dhuafa targeted Padas Village as one of the recipients of qurbani meat distribution in Eid al-Adha 1445 AH.
Arriving at Lawiyah’s house, our tiredness was rewarded when we saw her smile. Soon, her smile disappeared along with her worries. She told us that the long dry season had caused her corn crop to be poor. The yield was uncertain. Moreover, Lawiyah cannot enjoy one hundred percent of her harvest. She had to send a deposit because the land she used to plant corn on was not privately owned, but leased to the State Forestry General Company (Perhutani).
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“To survive, I farm and send it (corn) to the city. My income depends on the harvest and it is uncertain. Last year I failed because the corn was eaten by snakes. This year too, the yield is not good because of the drought. It makes me sad that my children, who are supposed to be working outside, have to help me here, either by digging or cleaning the fields,” explained Lawiyah in a hoarse voice.
To survive, Lawiyah, her husband and two children eat rice with boiled cassava leaves. Occasionally, she cooks tofu and tempeh to fulfill her family’s protein needs. Lawiyah almost never consumes meat.
On Eid al-Adha 1444 H, Dompet Dhuafa managed to distribute qurbani meat to his village. He said that the people in the village had never been able to perform qurbani. It was the first and last time she ate mutton.
“I often cook cassava leaves. If I have money, I buy tofu and tempeh. If I want to eat chicken, I have to save up first. I ate goat meat for the first time when Dompet Dhuafa sent qurbani meat to this village. That was last year. Matur nuwun Dompet Dhuafa ingkang sampun bantu kulo seneng dapet daging qurban (Thank you Dompet Dhuafa for helping, I am happy to get qurban meat),” said Lawiyah with teary eyes.
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Although meat can only be eaten occasionally in Lawiyah’s life, she is still grateful for being able to survive every day. With Dompet Dhuafa, your qurbani is delivered to remote areas of the country. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Hany Fatihah Ahmad
Editors: Riza Muthohar, Ronna