Peasant Organizations and the Fight for Farmers’ Rights
Mobilizing for Land and Justice
Farmers and rural communities continue to fight for their right to land amid persistent landlessness, displacement, and agricultural exploitation. In response, peasant organizations and their allies have mobilized on the ground and online, leading protests, launching campaigns, and providing legal and material support to those affected. These groups play a vital role in addressing farmers’ struggles, pushing for genuine land reform, and resisting oppressive policies that favor landlords, corporations, and foreign investors.
Despite decades of agrarian reform programs and promises of future plans, land remains concentrated in the hands of a powerful few, leaving millions of farmers landless and hungry.
Photo by NNARA-Youth
Peasant organizations have long resisted these injustices, mobilizing in the streets, legal battles, and grassroots campaigns to assert farmers' right to land and livelihood. As state-backed militarization and red-tagging intensify threats against rural activists, these groups remain steadfast in their call for genuine land reform and food justice, challenging the structural inequalities that continue to oppress the country's agricultural sector. Learn more about the struggles of farmers and the initiatives done to fight for their cause.
There are some of thee organizations fighting for peasant rights:
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP)
Photo by KMP
KMP is a national democratic mass organization at the forefront of the Filipino peasant struggle for genuine land reform and social justice. Representing over two million landless farmers, farmworkers, and rural poor across the country, KMP actively resists land grabbing, oppression, and exploitation by landlords and agro-corporations.
Through mass mobilizations and initiatives against government-backed anti-farmer policies, KMP continues to assert the right of Filipino farmers to land and livelihood while linking arms with broader movements for national democracy and social change.
Danilo "Ka Daning" Ramos led a march on Bonifacio's 161st birthday, calling for living wages, sustainable livelihoods, and an end to rising food prices. The event also demanded the impeachment of Sara Duterte and accountability from the Marcos administration for the country's economic crisis.
An effigy created by youth volunteers featuring a map of the Philippines illustrates the country’s ongoing struggles against land monopolies and political dynasties.
Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women (Amihan)
Photo by Amihan Women
Amihan is an organization advocating for the rights and welfare of peasant women, the largest sector of women in the Philippines. Committed to genuine agrarian reform, Amihan was established in 1986 to fight against land grabbing, displacement, and exploitation collectively.
The group amplifies the voices of rural women, who bear the brunt of poverty, militarization, and food insecurity while actively pushing for policies that secure land rights, sustainable agriculture, and social justice. Through protests, campaigns, and community organizing, Amihan stands at the forefront of the struggle for farmers' rights and women's discrimination in farming.
Amihan stands in solidarity with thousands of Filipino women and activists as they march against Charter Change, a initiative that exacerbates the struggles faced by peasants.
Tanggol Magsasaka is a network of advocates, human rights defenders, and peasant organizations dedicated to defending the rights and welfare of farmers in the Philippines. It actively documents and monitors human rights violations against the peasant sector, including land grabbing, militarization, and political repression. Through awareness campaigns and advocacy efforts, Tanggol Magsasaka seeks justice for affected farming communities and amplifies their struggles both online and on-the-ground initiatives through protests, rallies, and fact-finding missions.
For more information, check out Tanggol Magsasaka's Facebook page.
Women farmers from Tanggol Magsasaka and various peasant groups express support for trumped up charges against environmental defenders.
National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates Youth (NNARA-Youth)
Photo by NNARA-Youth
NNARA-Youth is a mass organization comprised of youth and students committed to advocating for genuine agrarian reform and fighting for the rights of farmers and rural communities.
Through education campaigns and mobilization initiatives, NNARA-Youth actively raises awareness about land issues, food security, and the struggles of peasants by encouraging the youth to be active in educating themselves and others, immersing in the experiences of the farmers, and organizing calls for justice.
For more information, check out NNARA-Youth's Facebook page.
NNARA-Youth activists join various progressive groups at the EDSA People Power Monument to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People’s Power Revolution.
Sama-samang Artista Para sa Kilusang Agraryo (SAKA)
SAKA is an alliance of artists, cultural workers, and advocates committed to advancing genuine agrarian reform and peasant rights in the Philippines. The group immerses themselves firsthand in the peasant struggles by establishing study groups, interacting with peasant communities, and growing a network of peasant advocates. SAKA artists contribute creative communication materials to aid in efforts towards the peasant movement.
A protester raises a placard alongside other progressive groups in a rally decrying the 6th anniversary of the Rice Liberalization Law, a policy criticized by peasant groups.
ARPAK is an organization of artists advocating for genuine agrarian reform and food security. Through cultural performances, visual arts, and protest actions, ARPAK amplifies the struggles of farmers and rural communities, shedding light on landlessness, exploitation, and state repression. The group actively participates in mobilizations, using art as a tool for resistance and social change, while calling for policies that prioritize the rights and welfare of peasants.
ARPAK activists wear masks of Duterte, Sara, and Marcos Jr. during a protest, symbolizing their call for accountability and justice for human rights violations on farmers.
SINAGBAYAN is a cultural organization that uses art as a tool for social change. It is composed of artists, cultural workers, and activists committed to serving the people through various forms of artistic expression, including theater, music, dance, and visual arts.
The group is known for its performances and productions that highlight issues such as land reform, human rights, and social justice, often collaborating with grassroots organizations and marginalized communities. SINAGBAYAN collaborates with peasant organizations like KMP and Amihan to support campaigns against land grabbing and rural exploitation.
For more information, check out SINAGBAYAN’s Facebook page.
SINAGBAYAN joins other progressive groups to demand genuine agrarian reform.
