With an aging farming population, there is an urgent need to attract and empower the younger generation to carry forward agricultural practices. Young farmers bring fresh perspectives, technological savvy, and innovative approaches that can boost productivity, enhance sustainability, and adapt to modern challenges such as climate change and market dynamics.
Titled “Cultivating the Future: Empowering Young Farmers in Indonesian Culture,” the second episode of JRKDem Community Radio Network for Democracy, highlights the importance of multicultural schools in teaching the next generation about agriculture.
Mr. Ai Nurhidayat, a farmer and educator at SMK Multicultural Bakti Karya, a vocational high school, highlights how important it is for legislators to comprehend the value of agriculture and recommends including it in school curricula to encourage young people to think about farming as a career.
Changes start in the education system
In Indonesia, agriculture is still a major industry that creates jobs and boosts the country’s economic growth. However, the industry has to deal with issues including an aging labor force and upgrading requirements. For Nurdihayat, young people can develop a greater awareness and reverence for the agricultural sector’s contribution to both economic stability and food security by implementing agriculture education into school curricula. By encouraging students to choose jobs in agriculture, this educational method can guarantee an ongoing supply of creative and capable young farmers who can propel the industry’s expansion and sustainability.
Encouraging youth involvement in agriculture will also help preserve rural communities, reduce urban migration, and foster economic growth by creating new job opportunities and revitalizing traditional farming methods with contemporary techniques.
In the second interview of Episode 2, creative efforts to improve agricultural education and marketing networks in the area are discussed with Mr. Irwan Budi, Head of Millennial Farmers in Madiun. By integrating modern technologies and practices into agricultural education, young farmers can be better prepared to face contemporary challenges and increase their efficiency. Furthermore, strengthening marketing networks ensures that farmers can reach broader markets, receive fair prices for their products, and reduce post-harvest losses.
Moreover, in an interview with Mr. Budi, he put forth a solution: creatively and engagingly bring agriculture to all educational levels. According to Kusumaningrum et al. (2021), this strategy guarantees a consistent flow of competent and driven people by creating a generation that is more conscious of agricultural challenges and inclined to seek jobs in the field.
Modern agriculture and increased production require the development of creativity and problem-solving skills, which can be stimulated through innovative and experiential learning techniques. A national understanding for the value of agriculture can be fostered by enticing educational initiatives that close the gap between young people in urban and rural areas.
Contributed by Thesa Elaine Mallo, ComDev Asia intern
References:
Maryani, D., Kusnadi, D. (2018). Strengthening The Role of Progressive Farmers In Developing Young Farmers at Sukabumi Indonesia. Retrieved from https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=The+Role+of+Agricultural+Education
Saliem, H. P., Suryahadi, A., & Sumarto, S. (2020). Enhancing Market Access for Smallholder Farmers in Indonesia: Challenges and Opportunities. Agricultural Economics, 51(4), 531-543. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15740862/2002/27/1
Setiyono, T., Sundari, S., & Prasetyo, B. (2022). The Role of Education in Promoting Agricultural Sustainability in Indonesia. Retrieved from https://journals.scholarsportal.info/browse/1389224x/v28i0003