Background
Action Research is a kind of research, which has been conducted for a long time in Indonesia; however, in general its implementation rarely accommodates farmer's inspirations. Activities of participatory action research require a relatively long time for implementation, depends more on the community's initiatives and needs priority setting. Participatory action research possesses some two-way components, which is of the implementing agent to the community and vice versa. The components cover: (a) information transfer both from the implementing agent and vice versa; (b) awareness action on their existing problems and owned potential (two ways); (c) community motivating process on overcoming their owned problems; (d) innovation transfer and motivating the community to apply the innovation and its improvement; and (e) institutionalization on the innovation application.
There are at least six approaches on action research; these are formative, system improvement, problems solving, model analysis, participatory, and critical corporate self-consciousness. The applied approaches in this action research are problems solving and participatory, because those approaches are considered the most relevant with the community empowerment effort. No less than three parties are involved in this action research; these are local government (including district, sub-district, and village level governments), the involved community and researchers. The government is an influencing part on the programme sustainability and continuity.
The study sites
The action research has been implemented in two districts, Bogor and Sukabumi, West Java province. In each district a sub-district was selected and then a village was selected in each selected sub-district and a hamlet was selected as study site in each village. Study location in Bogor district is Babakan Madang sub-district. The activity is focused to assist the local government in controlling anthrax disease. On the other hand, Sukabumi district was chosen because it is one of the poorest regions in West Java province. In this case, Sukabumi district is represented by Nagrak sub-district and the activity focuses on empowerment of dry land farming community.
Data and analysis
Data collection was conducted by using survey method (baseline survey) and participatory rural appraisal (PRA). Baseline survey was carried out through interviewing community members using structured and semi-structured questionnaires, field notes, and participatory and direct observation. PRA implementation was in accordance to its norms and principles, which is involving community's aspiration and participation. Secondary data and information were collected from various reports and in-depth focused group discussion at several institutions and with other key informants.
Results and discussion
One of the most important pillars in community development is intensive guidance as there was unlimited opportunity to implement the action research. The involvement of Dompet Dhuafa = DD (a society-based alms giving management institution to enhance social level of the low-lived people) through Kampoeng Ternak = KT (Livestock Village) in Sukabumi site was very strategic and it was a blessing. Sheep were distributed to some farmers as the source of organic fertilizer. Collaboration with the DD was also a meaningful step in showing to the group that money is not everything, but more on hard work and high motivation. If there is a will, there will be a way and the collaboration with the DD is a proof.
In Bogor site, small ruminant rearing could not be developed more due to anthrax endemic in the area. Government will not develop livestock in the area of anthrax endemic. However, budget is available in the office of District Level Livestock Service for any activity related to veterinary services such as anthrax vaccination every six months. In addition, farmers training on better small ruminant rearing, including veterinary aspects was also carried out.
The handicraft making activity, which was learned from Laa Nona Gallery, has not yet given financial impact. Although the skill has been mastered, the products could not be easily marketed due to relatively high price. Taking part in various exhibitions, both in Bogor and Jakarta, had given them an opportunity to know the 'outside world'. This improvement will make them more ready to catch future opportunities, if any.
Impacts of community development activities are not only in terms of money, but also in other aspects such as awareness of working in a group, wider horizon of thinking, willing to improve their welfare status, be able to speak up in public, be able to collaborate with other parties, etc. Improvement in their income will follow the improvement of human resource and it is the substance of community development. Empowered human resource will be capable to identify owned potential and develop it by considering existing constraints.
Written by Edi Basuno, Programme Leader R&D, CAPSA-ESCAP, and Rita Nur Suhaeti, Researcher of Indonesian Centre for Agriculture Socio Economic and Policy Studies (ICASEPS), Bogor, Indonesia.
(Reference available upon request) |
