ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia is facing a farmer regeneration crisis that threatens its long-term food security. With nearly 80 percent of farmers aged over 40, millions of young people remain unemployed and increasingly disconnected from agriculture.
In response, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are urging young Indonesians to take the lead in modern, technology-driven agriculture through the Farmers’ Regeneration Summit held in Jakarta on December 22, 2025.
The national forum marked the culmination of the Petani Keren (Cool Farmers) program, a strategic initiative designed to equip young people with innovative skills across the agricultural value chain—from sustainable production to high-value agribusiness development.
Petani Keren Modules: From Farming to Agribusiness
The summit opened with the launch of the Petani Keren learning modules, an age-appropriate curriculum covering local agricultural biodiversity mapping, market demand analysis, environmentally friendly and technology-based farming practices, post-harvest processing, and agribusiness development.
The modules have been piloted with 100 young people aged 17–35 across Indonesia, many of whom have gone on to become young agripreneurs. Also launched was an agriculture guide for children aged 7–17, adapted into Bahasa Indonesia from the Youth and United Nations Global Alliance framework, with support from World Food Forum Indonesia.
BPS Data Sound the Alarm
During the event, FAO presented a policy brief on farmer regeneration to Kemenpora to inform decision-making in support of Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency agenda.
According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) 2023, nearly 80 percent of Indonesian farmers are over the age of 40, while around half of the unemployed population consists of young people aged 15–29.
The policy brief underscores the urgency of cross-sector collaboration to provide young people with better access to land, capital, technology, and cooperative strengthening as key pillars of sustainable farmer regeneration.
“Farmer regeneration is a cross-generational and cross-sectoral issue. Young people must be encouraged to engage in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries through innovative entrepreneurship and leadership approaches. This aligns with Indonesia’s national development agenda and inclusive economic growth,” said Esa Sukmawijaya, Assistant Deputy for Global Youth Development at Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Modern Agriculture as a New Youth Magnet
Beyond classroom learning, the Petani Keren program has also developed smart, semi-intensive, and permaculture farming models in Jakarta and Lampung. These sites serve as practical learning hubs where young people can experience productive, sustainable, and market-oriented modern agriculture firsthand.
“Petani Keren has transformed participants’ perceptions of farming. They no longer see themselves as traditional farmers, but as dynamic entrepreneurs in modern agriculture. We hope this initiative will reach more young people nationwide and that the learning modules will be widely accessible,” said Rajendra Aryal, FAO Representative in Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
Cooperatives and Financing as Key Enablers
Organized with support from the Indonesian Consortium for Cooperatives Innovation (ICCI) and youth organization Warga Muda, the Farmers’ Regeneration Summit featured policy dialogues involving government officials, members of parliament, civil society, and the private sector.
Training clinics were also held to provide young agripreneurs with practical insights into cooperative models and innovative financing schemes.
“Cooperatives are the backbone of farmer regeneration. Strengthening them is a strategic instrument to ensure business sustainability and enhance the bargaining power of young farmers within the agrifood system,” said Anis Saadah, Managing Director of ICCI.
Global Initiative, National Action
The Petani Keren initiative was launched in 2024 under FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), with support from the Indonesian government, the National Scout Movement (Kwartir Nasional Gerakan Pramuka), and the Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI).
The initiative was first introduced by Indonesia at the World Food Forum 2023 in Rome and received strong backing from FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
As Indonesia grapples with an aging farming population and an urgent need for regeneration, the Farmers’ Regeneration Summit delivers a clear message: the future of Indonesian agriculture depends on empowering young people with access, skills, and leadership roles in modern farming. (AT Network)
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