Jakarta – Hundreds of farmers from the Indonesian Farmers Union (SPI) rallied in front of the State Palace on Saturday in observance of National Farmers Day.

"This is a movement to call on the government to help meet our demands," SPI chairman Henry Saragih said on Saturday as quoted by tribunnews.com. Henry said that the union hoped that the government would help them secure their own farm land so that they could better support their families.

One of protesters, Wawan, 31, from Sukabumi, West Java, said that he found it difficult to work as a farm hand for hire as he had to rely on a land use certificate to cultivate a field. When the certificate expires, he said, his source of income would be gone.

"I just want to have my own land because working on other people's land cannot guarantee steady income for me to support my family," said Wawan, 31.

Aside from the protest in Jakarta, the union also held similar demonstrations in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Central Java, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara. It also held various activities including an agriculture and culture exhibition, discussions and seminars.