Marginalization of Farmers in Indonesia

Abstract

In Indonesia, farmers hold the image as poor and uneducated society. The common perception of the cause of the condition is that most farmers possessed only small area, which is economically unviable, thus the profitability is low and therefore they are poor. This paper aims to explain the condition of farmers from political ecology perspective. Insight and understanding of the discussed issue is mostly gained through an extensive literature study and legal document observation. Political ecology discusses the aspects of power and economy in the human-environment relation. In political ecology, power relation and power distribution among actors determine who will enjoy the most benefit from an exploitation of a parcel of land. We argue that the condition of farmers and the low profitability of farming is, consciously or unconsciously, a result of political, institutional, and economical arrangement, which lead to the marginalization of farmers. They are supported but not empowered. The support aimed to reduce production cost and improve yield, but the farmers have very little power to access the market and control the price. In the overall rice production and trade chain, farmers received the least profit in comparison to other actors, such as rice mills and traders. Keywords—direct access to market, entrepreneur, marginalization of farmers, political ecology,