As Millennial Farmers Decline, Semarang Regency Introduces Agricultural Education in Schools

The number of millennial farmers continues to shrink, prompting the Semarang Regency Government to prepare agricultural learning programmes in schools to encourage young people to enter the sector. Alongside the reduction of agricultural land due to land conversion, the number of farmers in Semarang Regency is also declining each year, raising concerns that this will increasingly complicate future food supply efforts. According to data received by the Semarang Regency Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Office (Dispertanikap), 77.6 percent of current farmers are over 45 years old, while millennial farmers account for only around 11.8 percent. The number of agricultural households in the area has decreased by 10.27 percent over the last ten years. This situation contrasts with the availability of agriculture-based schools in the regency, which produce thousands of graduates and prospective young farmers annually. In reality, only a small percentage continue to pursue careers in agriculture. Semarang Regency has numerous agriculture-based schools with thousands of students, including SMK Negeri Bawen, SMK Negeri H. Moenadi Ungaran, SMK Farming Suwakul, SMK Theresiana Bandungan, SMA Negeri 1 Susukan, and SPMA Kanisius Ambarawa. Facing this human resource crisis in agriculture, the Semarang Regency Government is taking steps to address the growing difficulty of attracting millennials to the sector, fearing the impact on future food security. To foster interest and talent among young people in agriculture, the Dispertanikap is collaborating with the Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Office (Disdikbudpora) to incorporate agricultural lessons into schools. “Every year the number of farmers decreases by one percent, while demand continues to rise with the growing population,” said Head of Dispertanikap Moh Edy Sukarno on Monday. To meet this demand, the Semarang Regency Government is taking strategic action by cooperating with Disdikbudpora on the ‘Extension Officers Enter Schools’ and ‘Sustainable Food Schools’ programmes. Moh Edy Sukarno noted that low youth interest in agriculture is influenced by various factors, including a mindset shift and the perception that farming is dirty and economically unpromising, despite the sector’s enduring relevance to food needs. The approach involves introducing agriculture from school age through engaging and practical methods, with agricultural extension officers visiting schools to provide education and simple farming practices. “It is hoped this programme will encourage children to develop an interest in agriculture,” he added. Beyond formal education, Dispertanikap also runs non-formal training through millennial farmer schools, with seven training packages this year for young people aged 15-39 covering organic cultivation technical skills, agro-entrepreneurship upgrading, and digital marketing. Head of Disdikbudpora M Taufiqur Rahman welcomed the collaboration, stating it holds strategic value by not only supporting food security but also shaping student character, particularly independence and entrepreneurship. “We hope this programme can be integrated into co-curricular activities as it will be more structured and become part of school learning plans. We will immediately develop the educational materials from elementary to junior high school levels,” said Taufiqur Rahman.