Indramayu Farmers Union Breaks Dependence on Middlemen

From 1980 to 2011, farmers from the Indramayu Farmers Union (STI) fought to reclaim land claimed by the state forestry company. This effort yielded positive results. The STI farmers weathered periods of threats, intimidation, and criminalization.

However, after the reclamation struggle was over, a new problem arose. Farmers had to deal with middlemen who acted as intermediaries for their produce to market. The prices offered to the middlemen were not commensurate with their hard work. The problem was that they couldn't afford to transport their agricultural products directly to market. So, they had no choice but to rely on the middlemen's offers.

Due to this dependency problem, STI members agreed to establish the Surya Cahaya Makmur Cooperative. The cooperative's role is to distribute members' agricultural products, while simultaneously breaking their long-standing dependence on middlemen. With the cooperative, STI farmers' rice products can be directly connected to buyers. As a result, the prices offered are much better than those offered through middlemen. Besides improving the economic well-being of STI members, changes include the development of sustainable agricultural practices that use organic fertilizers and more environmentally friendly planting techniques. Furthermore, STI members' understanding of the management and role of cooperatives has also improved. In terms of social impact, this program has implications for 11.177 people. This breakdown includes 4.249 men, 4.134 women, and 2.794 young people.