Millennials try hand at farming

When Indonesia unveiled a plan to turn 2.5 million millennials into farmers within five years, it was a big ask. Success would mean reversing a global trend where tech-savvy youngsters were being lured away from rural areas to exciting startups and city jobs. So far, the results are encouraging.

Indonesia's farming population has long been shrinking, forcing the nation of 270 million people to rely on imports of staples like sugar, soybeans and onions. But it seems the exodus has been checked, with some 1.6 million farmers trained up since the recruitment drive was launched in December 2019, according to Dedi Nursyamsi, head of the agriculture ministry's human resources development agency.

While that number includes some existing farmers looking to improve their skills, the government says most of them are new to farming.

Training for 19- to 39year-olds is being offered through village schools and international job schemes in countries like Japan, South Korea and Australia. Skills being taught range from soil management to online marketing and operating equipment like smart greenhouses.

West Java, Indonesia's largest province, has its own programme to encourage would-be millennial farmers. The scheme—which focuses on high-margin goods such as ornamental plants and quail eggs—offers small plots of land, supply deals and loans of up to 50 million rupiah.

Almost 9,900 millennials have applied and 55 have started the programme.

But running a successful farm is easier said than done. A farmer has to juggle land and fertiliser conditions, weather, planting schedules and market prices. Also, finding the right balance can be exponentially rewarding.

"I still believe that farming work can actually be more financially productive than office work," said 39-year-old farmer Budiman. "It can even be many times over."