In a statement released by the ministry here on Monday, Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, said that he will fully support all activities carried out by young farmers to advance agriculture, along with various programs that support the optimization of food production in Indonesia.
"The program to increase food production requires the involvement of various parties, ranging from relevant stakeholders to young farmers," he added.
Meanwhile, head of the Agricultural Human Resources Extension and Development Agency (BPPSDMP), Dedi Nursyamsi, said that the YYA program is expected to encourage young people to actively participate in improving Indonesia's food sector.
"This pushes young farmers to promote and invite other young people to be involved in the agricultural sector," he added.
Nursyamsi also lauded young people who wish to work in the agricultural sector and play a role in national agricultural development. The selection of Young Agriculture Ambassadors was part of the Ministry of Agriculture's Youth Entrepreneur and Employment Support Services (YESS) Program.
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The program invites young people who have been successful in the agricultural sector to help promote the sector to other young people. The YESS program is a collaborative effort between the Agriculture Ministry and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to encourage young farmers to be more active in advancing Indonesian agriculture.
A total of 55 young farmers have been chosen as ambassadors for the 2024 YESS program based on gender equality and physical limitations. They belong to different socioeconomic backgrounds.
The program is designed to identify young farmers who can become role models for the younger generation and attract them to the agricultural sector by changing the image of farming from an unattractive profession to a profitable one. (INE)