The Story of Fatimah, An Arabica Coffee Picker From Aceh

Her fingers looked nimble and agile when she saw the red coffee fruit. He did not feel satisfied from one tree, then moved to another tree. In one minute, she already picked it up some red coffee fruits instantly and then filled in the basket that was treated at her left hand. Occasionally, this middle-aged woman wipes the sweat from her forehead.

Her name is Fatimah, 46 years old. she is a resident of Pondok Sayur Village, Bukit District, Bener Meriah Regency. I met her in early May. In this coffee garden, she was not alone. Fatimah was assisted by his wife and two children picking coffee belonged to Fauzan Alia. She looked polite but did not say much. Her smile only occasionally looks expanding when I try to greet her.

"I'm sorry, I want to rain any longer. So I kind of rush a little, afraid later not overtaken target quotes, "said Fatimah with polite tone.

I nodded her approvingly. Nevertheless, I persuaded him that after Dzuhur was willing to share his stories and experiences with me.

After the prayer of Dzuhur, Fatimah finally willing to meet me in Fauzan's hut. Initially, she was only willing to sit for a while, but with Fauzan's approval, she finally agreed to share the story with me until evening.

She was just graduated from junior high school. Fatima claimed to have depended on her life as a coffee picker. She with her beloved son gets wages depending on the coffee she picks.

"If the more we pick, the more we can get paid. If again this harvest season alhamdulillah good enough to eat, can be 80 to 100 thousand rupiah, "said Fatimah.

Every day Fatima can pick 7 to 8 cans. Each of these cans contain 10 kilogram of coffee with a wage of Rp 20 thousand. However, the coffee harvest season can only be done once a year, ie from early December until the end of March. The rest, they just surrender to fate as a day laborer.

"Yes, how else would it be because that month was the season of picking. At least try another job aja first, as long as halal, "her said.

The same thing also expressed Fauzan Alia, the owner of the coffee garden to me. The figure who is familiarly called Fauzan Blang admitted, at this time there is no seriousness of local government to memperdakan and pay attention to the fate of coffee farmers.

"Though Gayo coffee is already famous in seantro archipelago, even to foreign countries. But look at the fate of our brothers here as coffee pickers who are mostly done by women. They have very little wages. Though they really contribute greatly to this arabica coffee production, "said Fauzan again.

Fauzan said, the contribution of coffee pickers in the garden and coffee sorters in factories did not bring changes to the fate of their economy. Apparently the fragrance and taste Gayo coffee that has been known in various parts of the world, still not able to scent the economic life of its workers.

"Yes, our hope for the future should be serious attention from our government. At least they can get a decent wage to the minimum standards along with other health insurance. Their wages are not for other needs, sometimes their wages are only enough to buy two glasses of espresso only when viewed from their net income, "said Fauzan Alia.

On the hill, the sun was seen leaning toward the western horizon. The cold became more piercing bones. Fatimah and her son say good-bye to returning home. Me and Fauzan also rushed off the hills. Above the motorbike Fauzan bobbed through the hills and valleys. Along the way, my eyes continued to look at the expanse of hill tops that blend in with the valley has been shrouded in thick fog. The cold was increasingly felt when the sun disappeared and changed the night. The thick fog continues to spread to the settlements.

That is a bit of Fatima's story. She is one of the portraits of some typical Gayo Arabica coffee pickers who are still living below the poverty line. In my mind always imagine how great and true they are because they have contributed to the famous Gayo coffee to the entire world even though it has not obtained sufficient results.