Group Strengthening Strategy in Farming Group Empowerment

This study aims to: (1) determine and analyze internal environmental factors that become strengths and weaknesses, (2) determine and analyze the external environmental factors that become opportunities and threats and (3) formulate strategies to strengthen the group. Research method used in this study is qualitativedescriptive analytic method. This study used the survey technique using a list of questions included in the questionnaire and distributed to the participants. The study found that: (1) internal strategic factors that become the strengths of Citra Mulya farmer group respectively include group dynamics, farmer group management, the level of motivation, and the operation of savings and loans. The group weaknesses comprise relatively narrow land tenure and acreage, low levels of human resources, lack of infrastructure, lack of mental effort (2) external strategic factors that become the group’s opportunities respectively include the availability of bank credit assistance, the existence of Rural Agribusiness Development or Pengembangan Usaha Agribisnis Pedesaan (PUAP) program, support from regional technical implementation unit – agency for agricultural, fishery and forestry or Unit Pelaksana Teknis-Balai Penyuluhan Pertanian, Perikanan dan Kehutanan (UPT- BP3K) at District Suranenggala, educational institutions and village government, and market opportunities in agriculture. Factors that become threats faced by the group are among others less optimal cross-sector coordination level, delays in the transfer of technology, the pest attack, uncertain climatic conditions and price fluctuations and (3) results of the internal and external analysis show that the position of the Citra Mulya farmer group is in quadrant I and the most appropriate general strategy is aggressive strategy.