Economic empowerment through partnership model Agriterra supported SPPQT in 2008 within the  The Horticultural Partnership Support Program (HPSP) supported by three Dutch development cooperation organisations:  Cordaid, Agriterra and the Royal Netherlands Embassy.
The most relevant results in 2008 were: economic development of the farmers through improved partnerships in the cultivation of peppers and organic vegetables in the Merapi region. At the beginning the project was focused on building a cooperation between farmer groups and private organisations. The result of this activity was an agreement to co-operate with PT Heinz ABC Jakarta for peppers marketing and Mr. Tanto in Jogyakarta for organic vegetables marketing.
Besides that, business training sessions were organised for farmers (cadres - training of trainers), as well as on the functioning of cooperatives and on building and management of green houses. Other important results were: (1) the arrangement of farmer groups at dusun (small village) and village level, (2) setting up Gardu Tani Paguyuban as multi-business cooperation at association level, (3) building a Sub Terminal Agribisnis Paguyuban (STAP) Merapi region as the collective marketing institute.

The project proposal for the year 2012 will replicate its experience with HPSP in 2008, involving the community of Qaryah Thayyibah in the area of Kawasan Sumbing. .

In this first phase of cooperation the project will involve nine associations with 60 farmers groups (470 farmers) all of them horticultural producers of french beans, green beans and local curly chili.

Short-Term Objectives

1. Increased awareness and capacity of farmers, staff and board in the development of french beans, green beans and chili curly in partnership.
2. A reduction of the cost of agricultural inputs /  include seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.
3. Increasing the bargaining position of farmers in the markets
4. Increase farmers' income through the development of farming partnership in French bean, local beans and chili curly.
5. Increased absorption of jobs that support the agricultural sector


Results 
1. Increased knowledge, abilities and skills of farmers in terms of management / business management, post harvest management, organization of production, soil test and the content of pesticides and the development of organic agriculture in general.
2. Availability of working capital for farmers for the cultivation of French beans, chili beans curl through local and regional cooperatives.
3. agricultural inputs  (seeds, fertilizers and drugs) are cheap, close, high quality and safe for the environment and human
4. An increased  cultivation area of french beans, green beans and curly chili with better production arrangements
5. Marketing efforts of french beans, chili beans and curly chili with a local partnership system that guarantees a decent price to farmers.
6. The founding of a market in the region with the establishment of  an agribusiness facility. 

Activities
-	To introduce the project with partners and potential partners such as: Central Java Province Department of Agriculture, CV Bedog Education Center (BEC) Jogyakarta, Farmers Group Trianggulasi Merbabu and other potential partners. The objective to establish a cooperation to market the farmers’ products and to be aware of the buyers’ demands in terms of quality, quantity and continuity.
-	Training cultivation techniques of French beans,  green beans and curly chili.
-	Workshop management procedure oriented to the business unit (legal status of the cooperatives, internal procedure, membership fees, and business development) 
-	Cooperative management training
-	Provide Soft loan for the procurement of facilities and infrastructure at the level of farmers groups. 
-	Post harvest training
-	Organisation of the production in terms of volume, crops rotation and stepwise production  
-	Farmer field school
-	Field study at the collective level and individual groups members
-	Monitoring plant development/sorting the harvest, collection in the groups/packaging and distribution.
-	Soil test and training on pesticide application formulas 
-	Appraisal of horticulture imports in the region
-	Workshop horticulture imports impact with the participation of  SPPQT together with API and SPI , resulting in an action plan / proposal to present to the government.
-	Lobby related to import of horticulture products in Central Java
-	Monitoring and evaluation activities each quarter  

In this first phase of cooperation the project will involve nine associations with 60 farmers groups (470 farmers) all of them horticultural producers.

The total budget amounts to €102.750. €34.701 will be own contributions of SPPQT and €68.078 is required from Agriterra.

1.	To improve the farmers, cadres, group organizers, and association organizers’ awareness, capability dan skill to cultivate french beans, local beans and chilli through partnership system
2.	To reduce the production expense which includes expenses for seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and other chemical substancess
3.	To improve the farmers’ bargaining position in the market
4.	To increase the farmers’ income through the improvement of partnership program for the cultivation of french bean, local bean and chilli
5.	To increase working opportunities in the field relevant for farming