The Empowerment Of Sugar Cane Farmers In Lundo Village Through Syariah Based Cooperation

Abstract

Lundo Village residents in Pati Regency mostly work as sugar cane farmers, where 60% of the total village
area was sugar cane farming land. However, many of the sugar cane farmers were still in a state of economic
limitations. Nearly 40% of the sugar cane farmers were below the poverty line. Various problems faced by
sugar cane farmers consist of: very limited capital access, unavailability of fertilizer on time, inability to
master the postharvest technology, not having access to agricultural resources, and having a low bargaining
position. In addition, farmers acquired one year to wait for sugar cane to be ready to harvest. To solve this
problem, it is necessary a mechanism for managing sugar cane farming in Lundo Village. The solution
initiated was through the establishment of a Syariah-based Sugar Cane Cooperative. The cooperative was
expected to be able to become a forum for sugar cane farmers and sugar cane laborers to integrate all sugar
cane farming activities based on Syariah principles. In order to realize the cooperative, activities are carried
out through training with interactive lecture methods and intensive mentoring until the Cooperative formed.
The Syariah sugar cane cooperative was built with the expectation of empowering sugar cane farmers and
could be a role model for other regions.