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| Farmers of Mempawah Rise as Advocacy Training Ignites a New Wave of Local Empowerment. |
Mempawah — The spirit of empowering local farmers echoed strongly in Mempawah Regency as Gemawan, together with community-based farmer groups, held an advocacy training aimed at strengthening farmers’ mindset, skills, and bargaining power in defending their rights. The training took place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at the Galang Village Office in Sungai Pinyuh District.
Galang Village Head, Rasidi, expressed his appreciation and pride for hosting an activity he considered crucial for the future of farmers in his area.
“I’m very proud and happy. A training like this helps us understand what steps to take when we face issues on the ground,” Rasidi said.
Farmers From 15 Villages Come Together to Discuss Real Challenges
Representatives of farmer groups from 15 villages in Mempawah participated in this activity, bringing insights from various agricultural commodities. Participants were encouraged to map out the root problems they regularly face—ranging from fertilizer availability, crop prices, and market access, to policy support.
Training facilitator Lani Ardiansyah guided the participants in categorizing each issue. He gave a simple example:
“For instance, if the issue is difficulty getting affordable and high-quality organic fertilizer, that falls into the ‘input and supplies’ category. Each group can explain based on their commodity,” Lani explained.
Participants also assessed the potential success of their advocacy efforts by scoring them from 1 to 10. These scores helped identify which strategies would be most realistic and impactful.
Role-Play Session: Farmers Learn How Political Dynamics Work
A simulation session made the training even more engaging. Participants played key roles such as journalists, heads of government offices, business owners, legislators, and farmers. The role-play helped them understand the political dynamics often involved in decision-making processes.
The simulation highlighted how the interests of elites, capital, and bureaucracy frequently intersect—and sometimes clash—with the needs of grassroots farmers.
Preparing for Dialogue: Farmers Set to Present Their Demands to Local Government
As a follow-up, the Gemawan team compiled all group discussions to prepare farmers for an upcoming audience with the Department of Agriculture and Food Security of Mempawah Regency. In this meeting, farmers will present their problem mapping results and advocate for local policies that truly support them, instead of being influenced by narrow economic interests.
More Than Just Training: A Movement to Build Farmers’ Political Awareness
This activity was more than just a training. It was part of a broader effort to strengthen farmers’ political awareness—reminding them that they are not only food producers, but also citizens with the right to oversee public policies.
Farmers play a vital role in sustaining life, and they deserve a strong voice in shaping their own living space and future.
Through initiatives like this, the hope is that the farmers of Mempawah will continue to grow more organized, confident, and influential in pushing for fairer agricultural policies.
