Along the Archival Grain 
4 The Failure of Agriculture Planting Enforcement 4.3 Labor’s Shortages
4.3
Labor’s Shortages
Efforts to multiply agriculture and food production eventually faced failures due to drought in 1944, pest infestation, and labor shortages. Additionally, farmers and youth in Java were mobilized to work in massive infrastructural projects, such as bunkers, roads, or forced labor in many industrialized sectors. Many workers never returned due to a lack of sanitation, serious illnesses, starvation, and death. This labor shortage caused the farm field to become abandoned (Kurosawa 1993: 23).
References:Kurasawa, Aiko. 1993. Mobilisasi dan kontrol: studi tentang perubahan sosial di pedesaan Jawa, 1942-1945 Seri pengkajian kebudayaan Jepang. Jakarta : Yayasan Karti Sarana dengan Penerbit PT Gramedia Widiasarana Indonesia
ARCHIVES
I. PLOWING CONTEST WITH BUFFALOS
Buffalo were propagated as tuan gemuk ‘mister fat’, a being who can help Japan boost their agricultural production. Though heavily propagated, the reality was contradictory. Buffalo and cow population declined massively as an effect of the Japanese policy to handover two cows each week in several residencies (Shu). Only one cow can be tended per family (Kurosawa 1993: 24). LOMBA MEMBAJAK_db 1945 ed 12.pdf
II. WORKER MOBILIZATION PROPAGANDA THROUGH ROMUSHA
“Romusha worked joyfully with the spirit of independence,” cover title of Djawa Baroe, 19th Edition, year 2604 (1944).Cover romusha bekerja ed 19 1944.pdf
“Civilians defended their homeland,” an article title about Heiho (young Indonesian military units formed by Japan’s government). Source: Djawa Baroe, 14th Edition, year 2604 (1944).Heiho menjadi pasukan udara perang_Ed 14 tahun 2604.pdf
A vitamin advertisement to promote health for Indonesian workers. Source: Djawa Baroe, 14th Edition, year 2604 (1944).iklan vitamin untuk menjaga kesehatan_DB 14_1944.pdf
An advertisement for labor training through Tonari Gumi. Source: Djawa Baroe, 9th Edition, year 2604 (1944).keperluan pelajaran pabrik_DB 9 1944.pdf
Seinendan (youth troops organization) march. Source: Djawa Baroe, 12th Edition, year 2604 (1944).Mars Seinendan_DB 12 tahun 1944.pdf
A propaganda article about Romusha entitled, “Work voluntarily and Mr. Soekarno stood on the frontline.” Source: Djawa Baroe, 19th Edition, year 2604 (1944).romusha_bekerja sukarela_ed 19 tahun 1944 (2604).pdf
An article titled “Training to defend Java”, where Javanese people were deployed to become military troops through various trainings. Source: Djawa Baroe, 9th Edition, year 2604 (1944).latihan membela jawa_Ed 9 1944.pdf
