Indonesia pays high wages to encourage young people to work in agriculture.

Indonesian Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman recently announced plans to provide modern technology and attractive salaries to entice Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) to become farmers.

Indonesian farmers take a break during the rice harvest in Bali - Photo: Antara News

This is a strategy by Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman to realize the goal of food self-sufficiency for the new administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

We can't force Millennials and Gen Z to work in agriculture. We need to create a system that makes them feel comfortable.

Andi Amran Sulaiman (Minister of Agriculture of Indonesia)

Farming lacks "vitality".

Agriculture plays a crucial role in Indonesia's food security and economy . However, the agricultural sector in the archipelago is facing numerous challenges amidst a growing population and a lack of interest from young people in the field.

In Indonesia, 45 million hectares of agricultural land are shrinking at a rate of 50,000-70,000 hectares per year. Agricultural productivity is also declining over time, along with a decrease in the number of farmers.

"The situation is worsening because young people are lacking interest in this field," the Indonesian news agency Antara quoted Moeldoko, chief of staff to the Indonesian president under Joko Widodo, as saying earlier this month.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), citing a 2023 report from Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency, stated that over 80% of the country's farmers are aged 40 or older. This figure signals an urgent need for generational renewal to prevent a shortage of farmers and the risk of food insecurity.

Currently, the agricultural sector employs approximately 135 million people, accounting for over 30% of Indonesia's population. However, nearly 50% of the unemployed are young people aged 15-29. This highlights a serious imbalance between the sector's needs and the interests of young people.

According to the Jakarta Post , Indonesia's National Development Planning Agency once warned that the country would have no professional farmers by 2063 as young people would no longer enter the industry. A 2015 study involving IPB University (Indonesia) indicated that young people are hesitant to become farmers because the profession is "unprofitable" given the increasing difficulties and risks of failure.

Farmer recovery

In response to this situation, earlier this month, FAO collaborated with Indonesia to launch the first training activity under the Farmers Regeneration Programme, aiming to attract the younger generation to the agricultural sector.

The program includes training courses aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of young people through innovative solutions and digital tools. In addition, the program will establish training centers and support networks for Indonesia's new generation of farmers, providing information and connecting them with necessary resources.

The administration of the new President Prabowo Subianto also recognized that to attract Millennials and Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012), it was necessary to change the approach and create a more comfortable working environment in the agricultural sector.

Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman's program to attract young farmers plans to establish 15 groups of Millennial farmers to manage 200 hectares of farmland, along with salaries significantly more attractive than the current average farmer's salary (Rp 2.1 million/month, approximately US$134).

"Each farmer can earn a minimum of 10 million Rupiah per month (US$640), and even up to 20 million Rupiah (approximately US$1,300). This is even higher than a minister's salary and significantly higher than other jobs that only pay around 2 million Rupiah (approximately US$130)," Andi Amran Sulaiman said in an interview on October 23.

In addition, the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture also cut unnecessary budgets and allocated 1.3 trillion Rupiah (approximately $86 million) for food self-sufficiency. This money will mainly support farmers in purchasing seeds, developing 1 million hectares of rice fields in Merauke City and 500 hectares in Central Kalimantan province.

Indonesia reduces its dependence on imported food.

According to the Jakarta Globe, Prabowo Subianto has set a goal for Indonesia to achieve food self-sufficiency within four years of taking office as president, emphasizing the importance of reducing reliance on imported food.

"Our existence as a nation depends on food sovereignty . A free country must be able to produce enough food to feed its people. We cannot continue to depend on imported food," he said.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/indonesia-tra-luong-cao-de-nguoi-tre-lam-nong-20241025081021738.htm