Government promotes agricultural entrepreneurship to boost farmer welfare

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has stated that the agricultural entrepreneurship programme is part of the government’s strategy to improve farmers’ welfare.

“This entrepreneurship programme is part of the strategy to improve farmers’ welfare,” said Maliki, Deputy for Community Empowerment, Population and Manpower at the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, in Jakarta on Thursday.

Maliki said the government, through 15 ministries and agencies, is currently working to produce entrepreneurs in their respective fields.

At the Ministry of Agriculture, Maliki said, there is a programme encouraging farmers to become entrepreneurs in agriculture, given the wide-open opportunities available.

According to him, developing entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector is key for the nation to improve the welfare of farmers, given that the majority of citizens work as farmers.

“The Ministry of Agriculture is one of around 15 ministries/agencies implementing the entrepreneurship programme as well as MSME development. Specifically, the Ministry of Agriculture in the agricultural sector. And this is key for us because the majority of our workers are farmers,” he said.

He added that for the agricultural sector, the programme can transform farming businesses from small to medium scale, and from medium to large.

“If we can transform farmers’ entrepreneurship, they can become stronger, more productive, and move up a class. This will certainly provide and improve the welfare of the farmers themselves,” he added.

Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture partnered with the Indonesian Agricultural Economics Association (Perhepi) to cultivate young people’s interest in agricultural entrepreneurship to ensure regeneration continues.

“We continue to encourage young people to work and develop their businesses, especially in the agricultural sector,” said Idha Widi Arsanti, Head of the Agricultural Human Resources Extension and Development Agency (BPPSDMP) at the Ministry of Agriculture.

She said that when everyone works together, an entrepreneurship ecosystem, particularly in the agricultural sector, can be created.