Saung Sawala: Supporting Infrastructure for PPSS Cadre Generation

The Suryakencana Sukabumi Farmers' Brotherhood (PPSS) is a farmers' organization formed in 1948 to protect the land and living space they collectively occupy from encroachment. To this day, PPSS continues to face frequent intimidation from PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) VIII. Their strategy involves reclaiming land that previously held PTPN VIII's Cultivation Rights (HGU).

While external conflicts remain unresolved, PPSS must also address internal issues. These include members' weak understanding of agrarian reform. Cadre development is also considered stagnant, failing to produce young cadres with a strong understanding of organizing, advocacy strategies, agricultural technology utilization, networking, and economic development. All of these are essential knowledge and skills for cadres. Previously, PPSS administrators had also had the bitter experience of joining other, less-directed unions without education or the space to develop collective plans. As a result, they were often intimidated, worked the land fearfully, making it harder to earn a living, and developed mutual suspicion.

Therefore, the construction of the secretariat and Saung Sawala was the right decision to resolve internal problems. This infrastructure is not only useful to support the administrative management of the organization, but for the farmers' union, the building serves as a central gathering place, to discuss future collective plans, to formulate strategies, and to educate female farmer cadres and the younger generation. Another benefit of this Saung Sawala is that it can be used for early childhood education (PAUD) by residents of Langensari Village. A total of 250 PPSS members were involved in the construction of the secretariat, and Saung Sawala is part of the self-reliance that PPSS continues to foster. The Agrarian Reform Cadre Education uses ARAS, which was developed and facilitated by KPA Training programs have also been implemented for all members, including women farmers' groups as female cadres of the PPSS. This development directly strengthens the solidarity of the PPSS and addresses the challenge of producing new cadres with an understanding of agrarian reform, organizing, advocacy strategies, and other knowledge useful for their union. This program impacts 11.000 people in Langensari Village. This includes 4.219 men, 4.031 women, and 2.750 young people.