This is an evaluation of the Draft Revised Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture No. 82/2013 on Guidelines for Facilitation for Farmers and the Association of Farmers for Farmers Organization guidelines.

One of the mandate of the Law on Protection and Empowerment of Farmers is the strengthening of farmer organizations. The presence of the word “strengthening”, means that farmers institutions are existed, so that the mandate to the Government and Local Government is to facilitate and encourage the strengthening of farmer organizations. In fact, there are farmers’ institutions that especially work on farming activity facilitated by the Government and Local Government, such as the Farmers Groups  (Kelompok Tani or in short is called “Poktan”) and the Association of Farmers Groups (called “Gapoktan”). There is also an organization that historically formed by the government, it was not only for farming, but also engaging political organizing, for example HKTI (Himpunan Kerukunan Tani Indonesian or Indonesian Farmers Association). Aside from the organizations facilitated by the Government/local government, there are also institutions that serves as farmer struggle organizations that fight for agrarian reform, and to defend farmers’ rights. In the area of cultivation or farming they are  also developing ecologically friendly agriculture through organic fertilizer, plant breeding, and development of cooperatives.

Therefore, strengthening farmers institutions are not only characterized by Poktan and Gapoktan, but it also incorporates as struggle organization and economic cooperation efforts.