Governance, Conflict, and Community Resistance in Large-Scale Agricultural Investments: Case Study from Papua’s Food Estate Program
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajsard.v2i1.5886Keywords:
Agricultural Investment, Community Resistance, Conflict Governance, Food Policy, Land RightsAbstract
This study examines the dynamics of large-scale agricultural investment in South Papua within the framework of Indonesia’s food estate policy. The research aims to analyze how land governance and state regulations shape patterns of sustainable agricultural investment, to explore the drivers of community resistance, and to assess the power relations between government, investors, and indigenous communities. Employing a qualitative, descriptive–exploratory approach, the study combines policy document analysis, semi-structured interviews with 25 key informants, and field observations conducted across selected districts between June 2023 and March 2024. This design captures both the structural features of agrarian governance and the lived experiences of affected communities. Findings reveal that agrarian regulations frequently privilege corporate and political elites, producing elite capture, marginalization of customary rights, and growing inequalities in land access. While the food estate program is framed as a strategy to strengthen national food sovereignty, its implementation often triggers social tensions, ecological degradation, and disruptions to traditional livelihoods. Nevertheless, evidence from participatory initiatives, corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, and smallholder partnership schemes indicates potential pathways toward more equitable and sustainable development outcomes. The study concludes that large-scale agricultural investment in South Papua must be understood as both an economic and political process. It recommends strengthening governance transparency, ensuring regulatory compliance, and institutionalizing indigenous participation through mechanisms such as Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). By aligning investment with sustainability principles and local empowerment, food estate projects can better balance state objectives with community welfare.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Samel W. Ririhena, Edoardus E. Maturbongs, Inez Cara Alexander Phoek
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