The present Bina Swadaya was actually named Yayasan Sosial Tani Membangun (YSTM) when it was founded in Jakarta on 24 May 1967 by Ikatan Petani Pancasila (IPP) or the Pancasila Farmers Union. Bina Swadaya is intended to function as a legal body in charge of managing projects commissioned by IPP. In 1969, when ‘Trubus’ farming magazine is launched, YSTM acts as its publisher. Later, in 1973 due to the Government pressure as part of its program to streamline the political and mass organizations, Ikatan Petani Pancasila along with 14 other farmer organizations is merged into Himpunan Kerukunan Tani Indonesia (HKTI) –Indonesian Farmers’ Association, and YSTM, in addition to publishing ‘Trubus’ and being IPP’s heir, also conducts training programs, advocacies and development of agricultural produce and its marketing. YSTM manages these various activities until 1985, when the Indonesian Information Minister issues a decree banning Press Publishers from managing other activities than the press publication. Subsequently, some members of the YSTM board of management set up Yayasan Bina Swadaya (Bina Swadaya Foundation) with the same management board as YSTM’s. It manages programs outside the publication of ‘Trubus’ magazine. Later, all these activities are consolidated and put under the control of Bina Swadaya, which would make each of its activities managed by a Limited Liability Company with Yayasan Bina Swadaya as the sole share owner.
This article is taken partly from a book ‘Meningkatkan Keberdayaan Masyarakat Berkelanjutan’ (Sustainable Community Empowerment) published to comamorate Bina Swadaya 45 years, last year. The English translation by Mr. F. Gogo Prayoga
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