The ongoing crisis in farmer regeneration and the shrinking of agricultural land have become pressing challenges. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the number of individual agricultural enterprises has been on a declining trend since 2013. In that year, Indonesia had 31.70 million farmers.
As of today, the number has dropped to 29.34 million, reflecting a 7.45 percent decrease. In the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) alone, the number of farmers has fallen dramatically by 26.26 percent, or approximately 153,000 individuals, over the past decade.
Dr. Bayu Dwi Apri Nugroho, a lecturer at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FTP UGM), explained that all regions in Indonesia are currently experiencing a decline in agricultural productivity, both in terms of land area and the number of farmers.
“We know that land-use conversion is happening rapidly, especially in Java. As for farmers, the average age is 50 years, so regeneration is essential, if not, what will happen in the next 10 to 20 years?” he said on Monday, Jun. 30, 2025..
In addition to land conversion, Dr. Nugroho noted that the declining number of farmers is also driven by the perception that agriculture is an unattractive, outdated profession with low economic returns.
“The government needs to change that mindset, one way being through the introduction of agricultural technology and innovation, tools and techniques applicable in modern farming. And we must start introducing this innovation from elementary school. We need to provide students with an understanding that agriculture can be modern and economically rewarding,” he explained.
He emphasized that while the ‘millennial farmer’ program is a step toward creating the next generation of farmers, it will not be effective if it remains merely a project or slogan.
Agricultural education and innovation, including technology, should be introduced as early as possible, ideally incorporated into the curriculum to help students build a comprehensive understanding of the agricultural sector.
“In the short term, showcasing pilot projects that demonstrate how technology can be profitable and improve livelihoods is key to attracting young people into agriculture. These examples must include elements of innovation and technology,” he elaborated.
Beyond short-term efforts, Dr. Nugroho stressed the importance of long-term strategies.
Children from kindergarten through senior high school should be introduced to agriculture and taught modern farming methods.
“We can introduce tools like drones, which can spark interest among young people to explore the agricultural world,” he said.
He also expressed hope that both national and regional governments would take a greater role in establishing a strong and sustainable food and agricultural distribution system by reinforcing integrated agricultural ecosystems from upstream to downstream, from land to table.
“This means strengthening the ecosystems that connect upstream to downstream sectors, ensuring availability and stable prices that benefit farmers,” he concluded.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwya
Illustration: Freepik