Pangandaran, West Java,
Indonesia - JAMTANI held an "Agriculture YouthCamp and Action
Research" which took place in Pangandaran Regency on September 10-12,
2024 with the theme "Sowing Seeds for the Future: Innovations to
Empower Rural Youth for Climate Resilient Farming". The event involved
50 young farmers, a study association of Padjadjaran University (Unpad)
students as well as a sharing session with the JIRP (Joint International
Research Project) team of Humbolt University Berlin, Germany students who are
conducting research with JAMTANI for 2 months in Indonesia. They participated
in a series of activities promoting sustainable agriculture, building climate
resilient farmers and discussions with successful farmers.
The Director of JAMTANI (Kustiwa
Adinata) expressed his concern about the food crisis that will be faced in the
future. In addition to the negative impacts of climate change caused by rising
sea levels, higher temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns, we will
experience water shortages that threaten crop cultivation. On the other hand,
the interest of young farmers is a challenge in itself because the agricultural
sector is increasingly unattractive. What will this nation eat if the
empowerment of young farmers is not a concern. Therefore, through this activity
we try to increase the enthusiasm of young people to become farmers, of course
we also pack it into technological innovations such as agricultural
digitalization and farmers who have the basis of Agropreneurship.
Initiated from the experience of Fisal
Hafiz as JAMTANI staff who had attended the Young Farmer Camp and Agrilympic in
Los Banos, Philippines, the Indonesian Farmer Community Network (JAMTANI)
successfully held an Agriculture Youth Camp and Action Research which
aimed to raise awareness and inspire young farmers to develop sustainable and
climate-friendly agricultural innovations, inventory the experiences and ideas of
participants, build collaborative networks between youth and stakeholders. The
event lasted for three days, during which participants were invited to engage
in various activities aimed at deepening participants' knowledge in the field
of modern agriculture and action research. Participants were invited to
collaborate and share experiences on effective agricultural practices and how
to deal with problems that farmers often face, such as climate change, upstream
to downstream managerial, and limited market access.
The YouthCamp also presented
several expert speakers from academia, agricultural practitioners, government
representatives, environmental activists, young entrepreneurs who have
successfully created businesses in the agricultural sector who shared insights
on agricultural technology, agroecology, opportunities for young farmers in
terms of government support and marketing strategies for farm products. The
young farmers and students actively discussed and worked in small groups to
formulate relevant action research projects.
On the last day, participants
were invited for outdoor activities and camping at Madasari Beach in
Pangandaran. Agrilympics (Agriculture Olympics) was the highlight, where
participants were divided into three teams and competed in five challenges that
tested their agricultural skills. From the selection of superior seeds, efficient
seeding, proper cultivation processes, to the creation of
ready-to-sell products, each team had to demonstrate expertise at each
stage of the agricultural cycle. The final challenge, the Advocacy Puzzle,
asked participants to design an advocacy strategy to promote agricultural
issues. Agrilympics not only hones technical skills, but also instills the
values of leadership, cooperation and critical thinking, shaping innovative and
resilient young farmers.
Action Research: Creating
Grassroots Solutions
One of the main agendas of this
event was action research, where participants were invited to
identify climate change problems on agriculture and design innovative solutions
through a research-based approach. Young farmers from Cilacap and Pangandaran
shared their experiences in managing farmland with specific challenges such as
flooding and erratic weather changes, while Unpad students provided input based
on theory and academic research that can be practically applied in the field. The results of this action
research are expected to be the foundation for sustainable projects that can be
implemented in their respective communities after the event.
Collaboration for a
Sustainable Future of Agriculture
This event is part of JAMTANI's
efforts to empower young farmers and encourage them to become agents of change
in their communities. By involving Unpad students, this event also became a
venue for knowledge exchange between the academic world and field
practitioners, creating synergies that are expected to encourage innovation in
the agricultural sector.
This Agriculture YouthCamp and
Action Research marks an important step in strengthening the role of the
younger generation in building a more resilient and sustainable agriculture.
Collaboration between young farmers and students is expected to continue to
grow, creating an adaptive and innovative agricultural ecosystem in the future. With the end of this event, the
participants went home with a new spirit and commitment to apply the knowledge
and strategies they gained for the sake of farmer regeneration and sustainable
agriculture.