Sustainable Pepper Plantation Recovery for the Economic Sovereignty of the Indigenous Community of Segumon Village, West Kalimantan 

The indigenous community of Segumon village in Sanggau, West Kalimantan, currently faces significant challenges due to the massive expansion of oil palm plantations. The presence of this industrial sector has gradually reduced the community's dependence on local commodities, particularly pepper, which is a crucial element of their traditional economy and cultural identity. The conversion of customary land to oil palm plantations has not only transformed the landscape but also forced many indigenous women to become low-wage daily laborers. This situation has sparked an initiative to sustainably restore pepper plantations based on local wisdom, with a primary focus on enhancing the role of women and the younger generation in re-establishing indigenous economic sovereignty. 

This program is implemented in a participatory manner, making the community a key actor. Various activities, ranging from village meetings and land mapping to on-site training, are carried out to ensure each step aligns with community needs. Key activities include assessing residents' land, training in organic pepper cultivation, and strengthening local institutions through the organization of farmer groups. In addition to focusing on production, the program also builds market partnerships and actively promotes products to ensure the pepper produced is competitive in the market. 

These efforts have yielded significant results for various groups within the Indigenous Community. Currently, dynamic farmer groups have been formed, with women's participation in crop processing dramatically increasing. Youth groups also play a crucial role in digital documentation and distribution. The economic impact is beginning to be felt with the opening of market access, which is gradually increasing the selling price of pepper for farmers. This success demonstrates that the recovery of local products is a real alternative to reducing dependence on the palm oil industry. 

Despite positive progress, the journey toward independence remains fraught with challenges, such as difficult geographic access, a lack of technical knowledge about cultivation, and price fluctuations in the global market. To address these challenges, the support team implemented flexible scheduling strategies, more comprehensive field training, and a broader market network. With this consistency, the Segumon Village Indigenous Community is slowly beginning to make pepper farming their primary source of livelihood again, while simultaneously raising collective awareness of the importance of maintaining economic sovereignty over their customary lands.