To maintain stable food production, Indonesia is currently facing major challenges, including unpredictable climate change, land degradation, and socio-economic pressures on farming communities. Addressing these issues is far from simple, yet building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food system requires scientific research and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
These points were emphasized during the National Webinar titled “Synergy of Science and Institutions for Sustainable Agriculture”, featuring two speakers: Professor Ferian Anggara from the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) and Gamahumat researcher, and Dr. Hempri Suyatna, lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM) and Community Empowerment researcher.
The webinar, held online on Friday (Nov. 21), was part of the Resona Saintek program, a grant initiative from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.
Iradhadtie Wurinanda, Head of the Dissemination and Collaboration Program Team of the Directorate of Science and Technology Dissemination and Utilization, stated that the Resona Saintek program aims to enhance public understanding of how researchers and academics can communicate science more effectively to communities and stakeholders.
Science and technology are integral to daily life, she noted, and must be conveyed in an easy-to-understand way.
“Universities, lecturers, and researchers can utilize this program to disseminate their research findings to the public and all stakeholders,” Wurinanda explained.
Opening the webinar, Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, Secretary of UGM, stated that UGM continues to strengthen the relevance of science and technology to societal needs, particularly in responding to climate change.
He expressed hope that the webinar would generate new strategic ideas and collaborations to reinforce national food security.
“We hope this webinar brings new insights that ultimately improve the welfare of farmers as the main actors in agricultural development,” he said.
As an innovator and developer of Gamahumat as a soil conditioner, Professor Ferian Anggara explained that Gamahumat is a research-based product designed to improve soil structure and fertility, enhance fertilizer efficiency, and support environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Its implementation involves collaboration across soil science, agriculture, forestry, and various stakeholder groups.
“The Gamahumat program is multisectoral in nature and aims to support the government’s goal of achieving food self-sufficiency,” he said.
Professor Anggara explained that Gamahumat is developed as a lignite-based soil stabilizer that not only impacts the agricultural sector but also has relevance for the energy sector and the downstream processing of mineral commodities.
This innovation supports the government’s agenda for both food and energy self-sufficiency while promoting more sustainable use of national coal resources.
“We apply a lignite-based engineering approach to produce Gamahumat with efficiency levels approaching international standards. We also ensure that this product is not only scientifically sound but truly ready for farmers to use in the field,” he stated.
Field trials of Gamahumat, Professor Anggara continued, focus primarily on marginal lands, as the development of new rice fields outside Java often faces challenges such as low soil pH and limited nutrients.
Data show that NPK fertilizer use can be reduced by up to 50 percent when combined with Gamahumat, while crop productivity may increase by around 30 percent.
“From a cost analysis perspective, Gamahumat does not burden farmers because its application can be carried out alongside fertilization. With increased productivity, farmers’ income is expected to rise as well,” he added.
Addressing the issue of farmer institutional strengthening, Dr. Hempri Suyatna stated that strengthening institutions is a crucial factor in promoting farmer independence and welfare through participatory social and institutional approaches.
He noted that many specific challenges remain, such as weak farmer institutions struggling to respond to agricultural problems in Indonesia, including the low interest of young workers in the agricultural sector.
“Interest among young people in entering agriculture is very low. The average age of farmers is now above 55, and farming is often a second or last option when they cannot enter other sectors,” Dr. Suyatna said.
Although agricultural modernization efforts aim to attract younger generations, the presence of new technologies has not been matched by the optimal functioning of farmer institutions.
Many institutions at the extension service and farmer group levels are still unable to play a strategic role in advancing the agricultural sector, despite the urgent need for strong institutions to champion farmers’ interests.
“These interests range from grain prices and market access to policy support. Economically, farmers remain in a weak bargaining position and are vulnerable to exploitation by intermediaries. Socially, they have strong potential and innovation, but these strengths are not yet fully supported by effective institutional structures,” Dr. Suyatna emphasized.
Dr. Suyatna also noted that development pressures and modernization often push agricultural land to the margins, creating further complicating matters. For this reason, he argued, farmers require comprehensive empowerment and revitalization of socio-economic institutions at the village level.
These institutions must serve as entry points to modern agribusiness systems, facilitating access to capital, markets, and technology so that members can improve their competitiveness.
He acknowledged that structural issues persist, including limited human resource capacity, lack of transparent institutional management, subsistence-oriented economic practices, and low member participation.
Strengthening farmer institutions (whether extension agencies, farmer group associations, or farmer groups) remains essential.
“Revitalization is crucial to improving farmers’ capacity, as extension institutions should ultimately serve as sources of information, training, and motivation,” he added.
Author: Lintang Andwyna
Editor: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian