08sq-5097 - Economic development through market improvement of peppers and organic vegetables
Serikat Peguyuban Petani Qoryah Thoyibah (SPPQT) is a farmers organisation that was founded in 1999 by 13 peasant associations (paguyuban) in Central Java. The groups are bound together by the common objective of developing a strong peasant society capable of getting access to and controlling their resources and overcoming constraints in order to improve their livelihood and influence policies that affect their lives. The promotion of sustainable agriculture is part of its strategy Farmers in Indonesia sell their produce mostly through the local markets or via middel men to regional markets. Prices fluctuate and the income is very low. Two farmers groups, Paguyuban Setyo Tunggal (PP ST) and Paguyuban Petani Merap (PP Merapi) have started a cooperation with private enterprises. PP ST sells their red peppers directly to PT Heins ABC Jakarta, while PP Merapi is cooperating with a supplier of organic begetables to restaurants and supermarkets in Yogyakarta. Management and coordination of both paguyuban is not very strong and they have asked SPPQT for support. Focus of the project will be on setting up a cooperative in each paguyuban, strengthening the internal organisation of the organisation and improving the production of peppers and organic vegetables.