AMMK Agrarian Reform Education Program: Strengthening the Land Sovereignty of the Jambo Reuhat Community

The Community Alliance Demanding Justice (AMMK) was formed based on the aspirations of the community in Jambo Reuhat Village, Banda Alam District, East Aceh Regency in the midst of a prolonged agrarian conflict due to the expansion of palm oil companies in their area. This conflict threatens the survival of the community who have depended on land as their main source of livelihood for generations. Seeing this condition, AMMK with the support of the Nusantara Fund Direct Funding conducted an agrarian reform cadre education program to strengthen their capacity in maintaining access to and control over their land.

The initial step in the True Agrarian Reform Cadre Education Program is agrarian reform training attended by traditional leaders, village officials, members of farmer groups, and young people from Jambo Reuhat Village and its surroundings. Participants are equipped with a deep understanding of applicable agrarian laws, customary rights to land, and strengthening the capacity of people's organizations & customary institutions. 

In-depth insights into agrarian reform, legal perspectives, and advocacy strategies are provided by the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA), so that the community understands their rights comprehensively. In addition, with participatory methods, participants also learn to make participatory maps of their customary territories, so that they have strong evidence of the boundaries of the territories they have controlled for generations.

With training, they are able to express their voices in the form of stronger and more organized advocacy. Including audiences with local governments, and the preparation of maps of officially documented customary areas. education on agrarian rights, advocacy, and internal community consolidation. A new axis was also formed, as many as 15 people were willing to be involved in joining the umbrella of "Women Rising Together Caring for the Environment (PBBPL)".

In the future, AMMK and its member farmer groups will continue to hold regular meetings. These meetings are a space for farmer group members to share the latest information on agrarian conflicts they face, such as land grabbing or land clearing without permission by companies. In the meetings, each farmer group is encouraged to identify specific challenges in the field and develop collective strategies to respond to these problems.

Through regular meetings, AMMK will continue to encourage better cooperation and partnerships between people's organizations, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders at the local level. In order to be able to unite the various perspectives of the community to support a consistent and comprehensive approach in the struggle for their land rights. 

In addition to advocacy and consolidation activities, a total of 21.000 seedlings (10.000 coffee seedlings – 1500 nutmeg seedlings – 5000 cocoa seedlings – 1500 papaya seedlings – 2000 petai seedlings – 1000 pepper seedlings) were distributed to rehabilitate farmer group land and customary forest areas covering an area of ​​81 hectares.

AMMK also distributes agricultural tools, such as machetes, hoes, and mini chainsaws so that farmers can be more independent and productive in managing their land. Equipment and seeds were distributed to 200 people from 5 farmer groups that are members of AMMK (Sabee Na Farmers Group, Jambo Tani Na Mandiri, Jambo Tani Na Maju, Bangkit Sejarah, and Perempuan Bangkit Bersama Peduli Lingkungan). Specifically for pepper seeds, they are managed by the Women's Group Bangkit Bersama Peduli Lingkungan (PBBPL).

Through agrarian reform training, AMMK not only instills awareness and shared understanding, but also shows that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities must continue to strengthen their positions and develop mechanisms and strategies to protect their rights under the applicable legal and policy framework. Support for sustainable agricultural practices will also encourage them to continue sustainable land management, for themselves and for nature. The combination of agrarian and legal knowledge and sustainability principles and practices will be the main capital in fighting for sovereignty over customary areas while continuing to actively maintain environmental sustainability.