That day, Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Ismail and Riadi visited the Nusantara Fund Office, at around 16.00 WIB. They are both residents of Pasir Panjang Village, Rempang, Riau Islands. Together with other Rempang residents, they held an action in front of the Chinese Embassy that day. Nusantara Fund specifically invited them both to exchange stories about the agricultural programs they are carrying out.
"The Pasir Panjang group's land [is used] and we formed it, there is a chairman, there is a secretary, there is a treasurer," said Ismail, describing the land used by the Pasir Panjang community for the agricultural program funded by the Nusantara Fund.
The area of agricultural land they manage is approximately 2 hectares. In terms of management, the Pasir Panjang community carries it out. However, technically, there are 6 people responsible for caring for the plants on the land.
The Pasir Panjang community manages the land using the mixed farming method. They plant it with chilies, kale, basil, and bananas. The mixed farming method was chosen because it can maintain soil fertility from agricultural exploitation.
"Indeed, that has become the will of the community. Then we also try to maintain the culture of the land. We are afraid, for example, if basil is continuously [planted], it [the land] will eventually lose. That's why we have to replace it with other plants," Ismail explained.
Market prices are also a reason for choosing the type of plant to be cultivated. Because the results of the collective effort will later be put into the community treasury. The results of the collective effort are allocated for community activities, such as financing Ismail and Riadi's departure to Jakarta for actions and other community activities. The community administrators are responsible for financial management, while the Pasir Panjang community as members will evaluate the financial report at the end of each harvest.
"Then regarding the market, basil does not always have a price. There are certain points where it [basil] drops in price. Chili's price is stable," he added.
The collective planting effort began with a conflict over community land by a company through the Rempang Eco City National Strategic Project (PSN). The community used Nusantara Fund funding to start farming because their marine products were under threat. According to Riadi, the transition from fishermen to farmers was not too difficult because they learned and worked together.
"If there are obstacles regarding agriculture, there are indeed a few about the weather, but we also have experts there. Those we know, we appoint as leaders. There are also our neighbors who are originally gardeners. There, they are often active in teaching, to become teachers," explained Riadi.
Agriculture in Sembulang Hulu
The agricultural program funded by Nusantara Fund was implemented in two villages. In addition to Pasir Panjang, the Sembulang Hulu Village community also planted basil on a 1 hectare communal land. Dian, a resident of Sembulang Hulu Village, explained that basil was chosen because the plant is easy to care for without the need for chemical fertilizers.
In addition, basil also does not require intensive care. "After planting, this basil does not need to use a hoe. It can just be cut with scissors. So there are only one or two people who are the cutters already safe," explained Dian.
For now, the land is managed by 2 people from the Sembulang Hulu community. Other Sembulang Hulu communities are still at sea, including Dian, and with the formation of AMAR-GB their activities have increased. Therefore, the involvement of other Sembulang Hulu communities in joint land management only occurs at certain times.
The results of the planting still cannot be used for the common good or are only enough to replace the labor of 2 land managers. The price of 1 kg of basil on the local market is around Rp7.000, while in one harvest they get 20-30 kg of basil. Later, Dian and the Sembulang Hulu community will develop the land by planting kenikir and lemongrass. For the time being, basil is only planted in a quarter of the 1 hectare of shared land. "So we can't do it all at once. We do it slowly, the important thing is to get it done AHA "The term," said Dian.
Maintaining Living Space
As explained by the Manager of Organizing and Acceleration of People's Managed Areas (WKR) WALHI Riau Eko Yunanda, the application for recognition of WKR by the Rempang community must go through winding administrative matters. Not to mention the lack of support from the lower level government. Meanwhile, amidst the minimal support from the local government, the Rempang community needs certainty regarding the legality of the land they occupy as soon as possible. "If they tuh "Sometimes because of this conflict, they end up using whatever scheme they think will be fast and they can have the legality that they think is strong," Eko explained.
The reason is easy to understand considering that it was on that land that they were born, grew up with the closest people, and raised the generation that was born with their own sweat. The pile of memories is priceless to them and cannot be exchanged for anything, not even with spiritual money or new settlements.
That feeling is what drives the younger generation like Ratna to get involved in fighting for the land and the fate of the people who live there. "Because indeed we already too long there. Even if we move, we still can't buy memory in the new place. Also already There are too many old stories there. So the government should listen society, what society wants,” he said.
However, Ratna did not want to say that the efforts made by the community to defend their living space and rights were a form of antipathy towards investment, equal distribution of infrastructure and the economy as the government claims. "We are not anti-investment. We accept investment as long as the investment does not damage the sea and land. Also didn't pick it up our rights, our land. Let the people live as they do, in their respective places.” He added.
In line with Ratna's voice, Ismail, who represents the more senior generation, also chose not to step down in order to defend his ancestral land from investment interests. He also hopes that the efforts made by the Rempang community can inspire people in other regions who have the same fate to fight for their land. "For friends from out there, from Papua to Aceh, hopefully you remain convinced that this land is our homeland. We do not want to be evicted even a step," he said firmly.
