<![CDATA[Plantation is one of the potential agricultural sub-sectors in Indonesia and coconut is a commodity that is developed as a raw material for the coconut sugar industry. Rancamaya has great potential in the coconut sugar business, but the craftsmen, namely taper farmers, are still living in poverty. This study aims to describe the role of the LPPSLH as a facilitator in the coconut sugar empowerment program for tanters farmers, the empowerment process and efforts to build the independence of Teres farmers in Rancamaya Village, Cilongok District, Banyumas Regency. The research subjects were LPPSLH and taper farmers in Rancamaya Village. The research method used a qualitative method with a descriptive approach and the sampling was done purposively. Data collection was carried out through interviews, observation and literature study. Anthony Giddens' structuration theory regarding agents and structure is used to examine the role of agents and structures in the empowerment process of taster farmers. The results showed that LPPSLH played a role in education, facilitation and advocacy for smallholders in empowerment programs, the empowerment process was carried out through the stages of area assessment, program socialization, training, organic certification, development of market access, and monitoring evaluation. Efforts to build independence are carried out by encouraging farmers to form farmer groups and cooperatives as a forum for learning together, strengthening farmers' bargaining positions and developing coconut sugar businesses.Keywords: Role, Community Empowerment, Facilitator, Penderes Farmer. AbstrakPerkebunan merupakan salah satu sub sektor pertanian yang potensial di Indonesia dan kelapa menjadi komoditas yang dikembangkan sebagai bahan baku dalam industri gula kelapa. Rancamaya memiliki potensi besar dalam usaha gula kelapa, namun pengrajinnya yaitu petani penderes masih hidup dalam kemiskinan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan bagaimana peran LPPSLH sebagai fasilitator dalam program pemberdayaan gula kelapa terhadap petani penderes, proses pemberdayaan dan upaya membangun kemandirian petani penderes di Desa Rancamaya, Kecamatan Cilongok , Kabupaten Banyumas. Subjek penelitian yaitu LPPSLH dan petani penderes di Desa Rancamaya. Metode penelitian menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif dan pengambilan sampel dilakukan secara purposive. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui wawancara, observasi dan studi kepustakaan. Teori struktursasi miliki Anthony Giddens mengenai agen dan struktur digunakan untuk mengkaji bagaimana peran agen dan struktur dalam proses pemberdayaan petani penderes. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan LPPSLH melakukan peran edukasi, fasilitasi dan advokasi kepada petani penderes dalam program pemberdayaan, proses pemberdayaan dilakukan melalui tahapan assesment wilayah, sosialisasi program, pelatihan, sertifikasi organik, dan pengembangan akses pasar, serta monitoring evaluasi. Upaya membangun kemandirian dilakukan dengan cara mendorong petani untuk membentuk kelompok tani dan koperasi sebagai wadah untuk belajar bersama, menguatkan posisi tawar petani dan mengembangkan usaha gula kelapa.Kata kunci: Peran, Pemberdayaan Masyarakat, Fasilitator, Petani Penderes.]]>
