Project development Goal:

Utilization of renewable energy technology to increase land productivity in agriculture and development of democratic natural resources management model.

Project Objectives :

1. To develop and establish windmill for water pumping in attempt to address water scarcity problems during drought.
2. To develop a life style among farmers through the use of renewable energy
3. To increase land productivity and to address challenges of food security at household level
4. To strengthen institutional capacity among farmers.

Expected output:

1. Two functional units of windmill-water pumping: installed, operating with clear agreement of ownership among farmers and water users.
2. Stronger capacity of farmers group and greater access to exercise democratic decision making process regarding natural resources management in their territory
3. Sustainable farming practice in and irrigation for 150 hectare field belong to farmers groups and villagers (560 households)
4. Attitude to organize themselves to take decision through democratic practices to ensure sustainable farming among farmers.

Activities to be conducted :

1. Social preparation

Farmers and local community organizers conduct social preparation through regular meeting. Previous participatory planning resulted in common understanding of water scarcity that have impoverished the villages. The social preparation aims to ensure the location of the wind mill, organization of the building process, maintenance team and cost sharing. The meetings and socialization process will ensure the ownership and sustainability of the project.

2. Data collection and analysis, affordable renewable technology determination and pilot project implementation.

The project will collaborate closely with technical assistance from Yayasan Lintang Langit Samudra. Wind survey was conducted by RACA and will be submitted as part of the initial planning process. Technical and social survey will be conducted to determine proper technology. Although wind mill is desired, the farmers under SETAM and RACA will decide whether they want to continue to pursue the plan to establish the mill or if they want to modify the water pumping model with other energy efficient or renewable energy resources. The spirit of this program should be based on voluntary prior inform consent that includes provision of good survey results and analysis. The wind mill establishment should n not be the sole indicator of the achievement of the project, rather the indicator of success should be based on the delivery of water through utilization of renewable energy and working social organizations to support the water pumping and irrigation in place.

Members of water users will be trained to conduct necessary survey such as wind and landscape; as well Lintang Langit Samudra will then train the maintenance aspects of chosen technology (wind or other sources in case wind does not work due to a number of factors). The wind mill construction will fully involve the farmers to ensure knowledge management and sharing.

Farmers will build the irrigation, permanent wells and other construction work as part of in-kind contribution to the project.

One wind mill will be established and monitored closely to ensure as part of participatory learning process. The second on will be erected depending on the success of the first mill.

3. Development of social system support and strengthening farmers and water users organization

Water user organizations that will serve as full support for irrigation and draught problem will be established and strengthen through regular meeting, training and on-the job training. Women will be involved for food security discussion and workshop for them to plant food for family and ensure village distribution, especially in time of draught and low price of rice and high production costs of commercial agricultural plants. Plants that can function to catch and restore water will be planted around the fields and designated spots.

Five farmers will be sent for cross visit and learning to other villages and farmers group. The secretariat of farmers? organization will be furnished with sufficient but affordable office equipment. This will include organizational training and maintenance. When the farmers have more time saved from having to transfer water from afar, they will use the time for productive activities to improve their life quality.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
RACA and farmers organization will conduct participatory monitoring and evaluation based on the indicators set during planning. Indicators will include ecological, economic and social aspect, as well as measuring the impact of this activity in local policy decision making process. Periodical monitoring and evaluation will be used as mechanism for correction actions and adapted management. Reports will also be made available for farmers as well as for funders.

Project Participants and/or beneficiaries :

1. Serikat Tani Merdeka
2. RACA Institute
3. Yayasan Lintang Langit Samudra
4. Farmers
5. Local Government

The project is managed by a 5-person team of RACA Institute led by Boedhi Wijardjo, its Executive Director. The project will ensure women?s participation in both project management and fieldwork. RACA Institute and the farmer will jointly own the project. The mutual ownership includes the decision-making process, financing the project and associated risks, data and information generated by the project, and financial benefit from the business activities generated by the project.