VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Ministry of Agriculture on Monday (Apr13) inaugurated 67 Millennial Farmer Ambassadors and Main Farmer Ambassadors from a number of provinces as an effort to regenerate farmers. Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, while watching the virtual inauguration ceremony in Jakarta on Monday said, when the COVID-19 pandemic is still faced by a number of countries, including Indonesia, agricultural sector is increasingly needed to meet food necessity.

Syahrul Yasin Limpo said, as long as the COVID-19 still outbreak, more people need  effective, efficient and transparent agriculture. This can be done through millennial and modern farmers. The Minister of Agriculture confirmed 59 Millennial Farmer Ambassadors aged between 19-39 years and 8 Leading Farmer Ambassadors aged over 39 years. The farmers' ambassadors came from various aspects of commodities, such as food crops, plantations, livestock and horticulture. Moreover, the Agriculture Ministry also provides agricultural extension workers who assist farmers to transfer agricultural innovations and information technology so that they can produce successful farmers.

On the same occasion, Head of the Agricultural Extension and Human Resources Development Agency, Dedi Nursyamsi explained, this inauguration aims to accelerate the regeneration of farmers by increasing the role of young generation in developing and advancing the agricultural sector to be more prospective . Therefore, Nursyamsi considered that young farmers are needed to give contribution to the agricultural development renewal movements. The farmer’s ambassadors are expected to be able to attract other millennial to be agricultural entrepreneurs. In addition, it is able to accelerate advocacy to the community especially related to the Ministry's programs, so that the program can be implemented quickly.

Dedi asserted, in the face of COVID-19 outbreak, agriculture is the frontline for preventing infection because it plays an important role in fulfilling food necessities to maintain the body's immunity. On that occasion, there had also been established the management of the Millennial Farmers Ambassador Forum and the Leading Farmers Ambassadors Forum as well as the provincial coordinator chaired by Sandi Octa Susila.