Agriculture Ministry expands YESS programme to boost young farmer interest

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) is expanding the Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Support Service (YESS) programme from four provinces to eight in order to raise young people’s interest in agricultural entrepreneurship.

“We are opening opportunities to young people, whether they are already involved in the agricultural sector or not, by providing the pathway,” said Idha Widi Arsanti, Head of the Agricultural Human Resources Extension and Development Agency (BPPSDMP) at the Ministry of Agriculture, following a National Entrepreneurship Seminar in Jakarta on Thursday.

Idha said the YESS programme seeks to turn young farmers into agricultural entrepreneurs and is expected to build sustainability and growth through enhanced skills capacity and business management capabilities, as well as shifts in business mindset, in order to boost agricultural production in Indonesia.

“We will carry out a regional expansion. Previously it was in four provinces, now it will be in eight,” she said.

Idha listed the provinces to be involved in the YESS programme as West Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java, and South Sumatra.

She added that the programme, which has been running since 2019, will continue to be evaluated, with hopes that it can be sustained going forward.

The programme will provide a number of benefits for young farmers, including technical guidance, training, apprenticeships, assistance in accessing People’s Business Credit (KUR), and optimisation of networks and clusters.

“This programme provides grants to those who have business proposals and need development. We then provide a grant of money, according to their needs, to develop their business activities,” she added.