Young Generation Urged to Play Greater Role in Achieving Food Security

The Chairman of Pemuda Tani Indonesia, Budisatrio Djiwandono, has called on the younger generation to play a greater role in realising national food security and sovereignty. He stressed that agricultural development cannot be undertaken by a single party but requires collaboration between the central government, regional governments, security forces, the business world, and the community. “Collaboration between the government, the National Police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the private sector, and farmers is a tangible manifestation of a shared commitment to developing Indonesian agriculture. This is in line with various breakthroughs made by the government in strengthening the agricultural sector,” Budisatrio Djiwandono said at the Nusantara Corn Festival in Jatiuwung, Tangerang City, on Friday. He noted that various pro-farmer government policies, such as maintaining price stability, providing fertiliser, and implementing pricing policies that benefit farmers, have had a positive impact on national agricultural productivity. He also encouraged all levels of Pemuda Tani, from the central to regional levels, to support the government’s priority programmes, particularly in strengthening national food security. He urged young people and the community to utilise idle and unproductive land, transforming it into agricultural land that provides economic value for the surrounding community. “Our presence is not merely ceremonial; we aim to provide real benefits for farmers and the community. Corn is one of the strategic commodities, alongside rice and soybeans, that plays a vital role in maintaining national food security,” he said. Budi also expressed appreciation for the nation’s corn production achievements. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), national dry corn production with a 14 percent moisture content reached 16.16 million tonnes in 2025, an increase of 6.74 percent compared to the previous year. He stated that this increase in production must be maintained through the strengthening of the agricultural ecosystem, including the provision of superior seeds, modern technology, and capacity building for young farmers. The inauguration of the Corn Research, Training, and Business Centre, he added, is expected to become a hub for education, research, and agricultural innovation, capable of producing a generation of young farmers who are adaptive to technological developments. “The agriculture of the future is modern agriculture. With the support of technology and mechanisation, this sector can increase productivity while creating new jobs for the younger generation,” he said. Budi also paid tribute to senior farmers who have been at the forefront of maintaining national food availability. He believes their experience must be passed on to the younger generation to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector. He added that the government has a responsibility to provide supporting facilities, from farming equipment and seeds to fertilisers, so that more young people are interested in pursuing careers in the agricultural sector. “Hopefully, this collaboration between the government, the authorities, the business sector, and farmers will continue, thereby strengthening Indonesia’s food security while improving farmers’ welfare,” he concluded.