THE ROLES OF VILLAGE ORGANIZATIONS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT: ANALYSIS OF THE INDONESIAN EXPERIENCE (BUUD COOPERATIVES, BIMAS PROGRAM, STRATEGIES, RICE INTENSIFICATION)

This study analyzes the roles of village organizations in promoting rural development in Indonesia, particularly in supporting the Green Revolution (GR) on Java during the 1970's. The investigation examines the government's rural development objectives, strategies, and implementation of the rice intensification programs. A brief assessment of the nature and the roles of village organizations in three countries--Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines--is presented as a comparative basis for analyzing the performance of rural organizations in Indonesia's rural development.;This study concludes that while Taiwan's farmers' associations had greater capacity in implementing the GR effectively in meeting the basic needs, Indonesia's village organizations like in Thailand and the Philippines, made little contribution to rural development and tended to benefit the village officials and the large farmers. These rural elites were able to dominate village organizations, and thereby, secure the benefits of the GR. At the same time, the small farmers and workers were prevented from participating equally in rural organizations. They were not able to articulate their interests and were restricted in obtaining access to the organizations' services. Consequently, higher rice yield and production levels achieved by Indonesia's GR were paralleled by increases in poverty, unemployment, and inequalities in income distribution in rural Java during the 1970's.;The analysis examines a number of topics; it: (1) investigates the choice of rural development objectives, policies, strategies, and programs; (2) discusses the significance and growth of rural organizations; and (3) identifies the roles assigned to village institutions in promoting rural development--an increased agricultural productivity and an enhanced rural welfare. Moreover, it evaluates or measures the actual performance of peasant organization in administering various aspects of the GR. Finally, it evaluates the impact of the GR in terms of rice yields, employment, and income distribution. It measures the village organizations' effectiveness in terms of their impact on agricultural productivity and rural welfare.