SPI Congress: Agrarian Reform & Food Sovereignty Renewed Call
Indonesian Peasants forge Path to Food Sovereignty Amidst Land Rights Struggles
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Jakarta, Indonesia – The Serikat Petani Indonesia (SPI), a prominent Indonesian peasant association, recently concluded it’s National Congress, a pivotal event that underscored the urgent need for political struggle to secure land rights, dismantle corporatization, and challenge patriarchal systems. The congress, a vibrant convergence of farmers from across the archipelago, reaffirmed SPI’s commitment to achieving food sovereignty and genuine agrarian reform.
Peasant Women Lead the Charge for Agrarian Reform
A notable focus of the congress was the empowerment of peasant women, who are at the forefront of the fight for land rights and sustainable agriculture. Ratih Kusuma, from SPI’s Women Farmers Department, emphasized the critical role of the assembly: “This assembly is vital because we want to voice our rights as peasant women to realize food sovereignty and agrarian reform.” Her statement highlights the intersectional nature of thier struggle, linking land rights to gender equality and the fundamental right to food. The congress recognized that ending corporatization and dismantling patriarchal systems are inseparable from achieving true agrarian reform and ensuring food sovereignty for all.
The Migrant Question in Indonesia
A separate highlight was the Transmigrant Farmers’ Meeting, held in Sukamaju Village, east Tanjung Jabung, on July 25. the event marked the final activity of the congress. According to SPI Chair Henry Saragih, the location was historically significant: “This is where SPI in Jambi first emerged and later expanded throughout the province.”
A transmigrant in the Indonesian context refers to a person or family who moves from one part of Indonesia to another-usually from densely populated islands like Java,Bali,or Madura to less populated areas such as Sumatra,Kalimantan,Sulawesi,or Papua-under a government-run program called transmigration (transmigrasi).
The meeting addressed historical and ongoing issues in transmigration areas. Henry criticized the New Order-era transmigration program, saying it “was inconsistent with the Basic Agrarian Law,” and had contributed to violations of Indigenous rights and economic hardship among migrants. Delegates from Papua, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi shared accounts of land conflicts, mining encroachment, and criminalization of farmers.
wenda, from the SPI Papua Mountains Preparatory Committee, called for support for farmers in conflict zones. Dwi Putra from South Kalimantan reported that mining expansion had displaced entire villages. ”One village in Balangan district disappeared due to mining. It’s heartbreaking,” he said. Mustamin, from Southeast Sulawesi, expressed hope that the forum would amplify farmers’ voices and resistance efforts.
The congress also produced a dedicated document on transmigrant farmers for the first time, indicating SPI’s commitment to agrarian reform in these regions. The closing activities included a planting session in the Tanjung Jabung Timur Food Sovereignty Zone and a visit to an Agrarian Reform Village for a pineapple harvest.
International Solidarity
La Via Campesina’s General Coordinator Morgan Ody acknowledged SPI’s global contributions to the peasant movement. SPI also passed resolutions supporting Palestinian farmers and expressing solidarity with global struggles against injustice. Other resolutions addressed the criminalization of peasant activists, a proposed revision of the Forestry Law, and SPI’s stance on the 2025 Cooperative Bill.
Mugi Ramanu,newly elected Chair of the National Peasants Council (MNP),stated that the congress resolutions would guide SPI’s future strategy,particularly in relation to global developments on food systems. “On food issues especially, with new international agreements emerging, we must pay close attention in the coming years, as these will impact Indonesia’s food sovereignty,” he said.
closing the congress, Henry Saragih stressed the need for coordination at all levels.
“This is a challenging struggle, but if we work together with synergy at all levels, we can fulfill the mandate entrusted to us by the peasantry,” he said.
the SPI National congress has set a clear agenda for the organization, emphasizing the interconnectedness of land rights, gender equality, and the fight against corporate exploitation. By amplifying the voices of peasant women and transmigrant farmers, and by fostering international solidarity, SPI is poised to continue its vital work in advancing food sovereignty and agrarian reform across Indonesia.