Jakarta – The super hybrid rice known as Super toy HL-2 was planted and harvested by no less than the President himself with great fanfare last April.

However, experts say, the rice has not completed test procedures. "We have not officially sold this variety to the market as yet," said Agriculture Department's Food and Plants director-general, Sutarto Ali Muso, yesterday.

Sutarto was responding to farmers' protests in Central Java who were disappointed that this type of rice was not as good as it was promised to be. Many of the rice grains were they were harvested.

Farmers in Grabag are demanding a Rp 22.6 billion compensation from PT Sarana Harapan Indopangan, a company which sponsored the rice and which promised a compensation if the harvest failed.

The company is one of PT Sarana Harapan Indo Group's subsidiaries, whose manager is Heru Lelono, the President's expert staff on autonomy, together with his partner Iswahyudi. Another one of their subsidiaries, PT Sarana Harapan Indohidro previously caused a similar scandal when their much-publicized fuel-saving 'blue energy' machine turned out to be a scam.

The Super Toy's superior trait was published in the agriculture department's website, which claimed it was able to produce three harvests a year without having to re-plant the seeds, and the rice stalks just needed to be pruned after every harvest, prior to growing back.

Lured by the advertisement, Purworejo farmers planted this type of rice in a 103-hectare land, which failed. "I challenge Heru Lelono and Iswahyudi to come to Grabag and meet the farmers themselves. Don't let the people suffer," said Grabag viilage chief, Gandung Sumroiyadi.

Presidential spokesman, Andi Malarangeng said the government is not responsible for the unsuccessful harvest, saying it was not a government project. "The president took part in the first harvest because he was invited by the Purworejo regent," he added, pointing to PT Sarana, as the responsible party.

Heru Lelono, PT Sarana's CEO, refused to take the blame on his own. "The regent is also responsible, because he was the one who recommended this strain of rice,' he said. According to Heru, the company was only responsible until the first harvest in April. "We had no other agreement after that," he said. "Our director (Iswahyudi) is now discussing the matter with the regent."

- Tomi, Elik, Heru CN, Eko Ari, Akbar Tri