Youngsters, Time to Take Agriculture to the Next Level
IPB University together with Garuda TV organized Indonesia Punya Kamu: Farm the Future at Graha Widya Wisuda (GWW), Tuesday (8/27). With the theme “Young People, It’s Time to Bring Agriculture to the Next Level”, this event became a forum for the younger generation to play an active role in presenting ideas, innovations, and creative solutions to encourage the progress of Indonesia’s agricultural sector in the future.
Vice Rector of IPB University for Global Connectivity, Cooperation, and Alumni, Prof Iskandar Z Siregar, emphasized that this theme is very relevant to global challenges related to food, water, energy, and public health.
“Agriculture is currently the belle of the ball in many countries. Food security faces great challenges, and President Prabowo has also emphasized the importance of maintaining food, water, and energy security, as well as ensuring public health,” he said.
According to Prof Iskandar, agriculture not only plays a role in meeting food needs, but also has a major contribution to public health. Therefore, a pentahelix collaboration involving academics, businesses, communities, government, and media is needed.
“The media plays an important role in disseminating the essence of this discussion to the wider community, especially the younger generation, through various platforms in the digital and artificial intelligence era,” he added.
In line with food issues, the Minister of Population and Family Development, Dr Wahaji, emphasized the importance of the Nutritious Food Program (MBG) through the Nutritional Complementary Foods (MPG) aimed at the B3 group: pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers.
“Alhamdulillah, there are already more than 300 thousand B3 beneficiaries. It is not yet 100 percent because it is still in the trial stage, but this is real progress. For example, in West Java, one SPPG (Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit) is able to distribute more than a thousand packages for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and toddlers,” he said.
Dr Wahaji also emphasized the connection between this program and Indonesia’s demographic bonus momentum. “If this demographic bonus is managed well, God willing, it can support the economic growth target of up to 8 percent. So, family empowerment, improving maternal and child nutrition, and strengthening human resources are very strategic,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transmigration, Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara explained the new paradigm of the transmigration program. According to him, transmigration is no longer just about moving people, but building new economic areas based on superior human resources.
Furthermore, he highlighted the Patriot Expedition Program involving students from seven top universities in collaboration with 17 regional universities. A total of 2,000 young researchers were deployed to 154 transmigration areas in Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Sumatra.
“They conduct research, research, as well as service to transmigrant communities, so that people have a better perspective in managing natural resource wealth in a sustainable manner,” he explained.
In addition, the Ministry of Transmigration is also preparing the Patriot Scholarship Program which will be launched next year. This program provides an opportunity for people in transmigration areas to continue their master and doctoral studies through a distance learning system, while encouraging more applicable research according to field needs. There is also a comparative master’s option, which is an opportunity for master’s graduates to return to pursue master’s studies at the world’s top universities. (AS) (IAAS/NRA)
