Strengthening Farmer Sovereignty, DPD RI Committee II Tests the Validity of the Farmer Protection and Empowerment Bill at UGM

24 June 2026 oleh admin

Yogyakarta — Committee II of the DPD RI held a Seminar on Validity Testing of the Draft Law on the Third Amendment to Law Number 19 of 2013 concerning the Protection and Empowerment of Farmers at the Faculty of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada University, Tuesday (23/6/2026).

The activity was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, Prof. Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D. In his remarks, he stated that the draft law validation activity is expected to realize the commitment of the DPD RI to draft a responsive and visionary bill to address the various challenges of the agricultural sector in Indonesia. Regarding the series of drafting bills, the Chairperson of Committee II of the DPD RI, Dr. Badikenita BR Sitepu, S.E., S.H., M.Si., emphasized that the activity is part of the implementation of the DPD RI's legislative function as well as an effort to ensure that the bill is drafted based on empirical data, academic studies, and the real needs of farmers in the regions.

The Expert Team for Drafting the Bill, Prof. Subejo, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D. and Prof. Dr. Tavi Supriana, M.Sc., outlined the main points of the Academic Paper and the Bill, which are aimed at providing a balance of guarantees for agricultural land and farmer welfare. Urgent changes include weak regeneration and quality of human resources, inequality in land ownership and conversion, and low farmer access to production facilities and financing. The Bill also strengthens social security, minimum floor prices, extension services, agricultural digitalization, market access, farmer institutions, and support for young farmers.

At the seminar, several agricultural experts shared their views, including Prof. Dr. Jangkung Handoyo Mulyo, M.Ec., who emphasized that agriculture is a risky business, so protection must focus on land access, prices, capital, production facilities, insurance, and support for small farmers and farmers just starting out.

In line with this view, Prof. Dr. Erizal Jamal, M.Si., highlighted the gaps in the implementation of the law and the need to position farmers as subjects of development by strengthening farmer economic organizations. Similarly, Dr. Ir. Budi Widayanto, M.Si., emphasized the importance of rights protection, institutional strengthening, and empowerment that takes into account economic, social, political vulnerabilities, and local wisdom.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Jamhari, S.P., M.P., advocated a paradigm shift from aid-based policies to incentive-based policies. Farmers should be viewed as both food providers and public services that safeguard land, water, the environment, and the sustainability of rural areas.

Millennial Farmer Representative, Patrik, also proposed strengthening rights to water and fertile land, expanding insurance, ensuring post-harvest prices, controlling imports, and protecting soil quality.

In the closing session, the Chairperson of Committee II of the DPD RI, Dr. Badikenita BR Sitepu, emphasized that input from academics, practitioners, students, and farmers would be used as material for improving the bill to make it more implementable, equitable, and responsive to regional needs.

The event was also attended by Vice Chairman of Committee II of the DPD RI A. Abd. Waris Halid, S.S., M.M., members of Committee II, academics, practitioners, students, and farmer representatives.(*)