Revitalizing the Farmers' Movement: Building Solidarity and Sovereignty through SPPQT

The struggle of the people of Kedungombo for more than 25 years, until now has not received justice from the government. The people must continue to fight. Activities in Qaryah Thayyibah Farmers Association Union (SPPPQT) like yesterday it gave us an injection of enthusiasm in Kedungombo, that we are not alone in our struggle. We need friends who help create a solid, organized group so that residents are aware and fight against the structural policies that oppress the people in the Kedungombo reservoir. Paris Harjanto (farmer figure of Kedungombo Reservoir – Farmer Community member of SPPQT)

The Qaryah Thayyibah Farmers Association Union (SPPQT) was established in 1999. Since its establishment until now, the Qaryah Thayyibah Farmers Association Union has 137 assisted farmer groups located in 8 of the 35 districts/cities in Central Java. In its activities, the Qaryah Thayyibah Farmers Association Union carries out advocacy processes for farmer issues and socio-economic empowerment according to the needs and local potential of its members.

In February to June 2024, SPPQT with the support of Nusantara Fund Direct Funding carried out a series of activities for the True Agrarian Reform training center development program to revitalize the space and sources of base strength. Space to maintain the spirit-solidity-capacity and energy that strengthens the efforts and resources of the collective strength of the farming community to build a more cohesive grassroots movement.

The infrastructure and facilities of the training center were improved to be adequate for discussion meetings; training, natural laboratories, and also to be a space to maintain solidarity. After the improvements were completed, the Sustainable Agriculture and Agrarian Reform teaching material modules were prepared. This was followed by the implementation of TOT for 3 young SPPQT cadres to facilitate the training activities to be carried out. Only then was the Sustainable Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Training implemented by involving 3 bases of SPPQT member farmer groups, namely: Bumi Madani Merbabu Farmers Association (PPBM) - Semarang Regency; Gunungsono Rahayu Farmers Association (PPGSR) Kedungombo - Grobogan, Sragen, and Boyolali; Serang Jaya Farmers Association - Boyolalali. The training, which also involved students as participants, also explored valuable local practices and knowledge from farmers.

Then, the SPPQT team conducted field assistance to several locations of training participants to obtain input and find out post-training needs according to the situation and needs of farmers. This field assistance also became a space for consolidation of the farmer community with students and activists.

The farming community is the axis, they are directly involved in the development process and program implementation. They determine the direction of the program so that it can be a solution to the needs and challenges, including the agrarian conflict they are facing. The Bumi Madani Merbabu Farmers Association (PPBM) in Semarang Regency has been facing the Merapi Merbabu National Park (TNMM) since 2001.

Then in Boyolali, the Serang Jaya Farmers Association was evicted from the land since Gestapu and is now facing Perhutani. Likewise, the Gunungsono Rahayu Farmers Association (PPGSR) Kedungombo in Grobogan, Sragen, and Boyolali is facing the government, the impact of the construction of the Kedungombo Reservoir which was inaugurated since 1991.

"After the activities of the Qaryah Thayyibah Farmers' Association, we will encourage the movement again at the grassroots level by reinforcing organizational governance and solidity; encourage people to think critically and rationally by continuing organizing; also encourages organizations to become forums for citizens to find solutions to real, everyday problems. "So, with a permanent organization that is not only focused on resolving conflicts, it is hoped that the justice we long for can be obtained," " said Paris Harjanto (figure from the Kedungombo Reservoir Farmers Group – SPPPQT Farmers Community member) on the sidelines of the training activity.

The fact is that it took decades to reach a bright spot in the locations of agrarian conflicts. Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) in the 2023 Year-End Notes, there were 2.939 conflict eruptions covering 6,3 million hectares of land and 1,759 million victim families during the period 2015-2023. Of the 851 locations that are priority for agrarian reform, the achievement of land redistribution and conflict resolution has only reached 21 LPRA (priority locations for agrarian reform) with a total of 5.400 hectares (ha) for 7.690 families. The other 830 LPRAs have not been repaid and are still caught up in prolonged conflict.

The impact of a protracted Agrarian conflict has the potential to metamorphose into a more complex impact. Just look at the Kedung Ombo Reservoir, 35 years have passed since it was inaugurated and the socio-economic impact on the daily lives of the residents who are victims is still being felt.

As Paris Harjanto said, “…that we are not alone in the struggle,…”, representing how the spirit and motivation of the farmer community is getting stronger day by day as the program runs. Not only in the figures of the agrarian movement of the Bumi Madani Merbabu Farmers Community (PPBM), the Serang Jaya Farmers Community and the Gunungsono Rahayu Farmers Community (PPGSR) Kedungombo, but also the young cadres who will hold the baton of the organization.

There are still many other farming communities in Indonesia who are still struggling for decades facing agrarian conflicts amidst the siege of structural policies that are not in their favor. Not to mention the condition of infrastructure and accessibility affecting the competitiveness of farmers, while climate change brings new challenges related to planting patterns and agricultural yields.

The emphasis on organized collective action is a survival strategy for winning the long struggle to overcome challenges and gather the resources needed to achieve justice, sovereignty, and prosperity.