Speaking on Wednesday, the deputy minister emphasized that youth have a significant impact because they bring fresh ideas in areas such as management and trade, which are often overlooked by senior farmers in rural areas.
Senior farmers, he explained, usually focus only on production and not on the next steps.
According to him, agribusiness students can drive development and support agricultural downstreaming, improve the processing industry, and strengthen distribution chains, so that agricultural products gain higher added value.
He urged young people, especially agribusiness students, to take part in the sector, stressing that their energy and innovation can shape the nation’s progress by strengthening agriculture as a key pillar of food security.
Sudaryono also encouraged students to be confident in their skills when facing challenges, while maintaining modesty.
“Sometimes, when it comes to agriculture, people in this sector have a unique characteristic. They are usually very low profile. I ask you not to be too low profile. Being humble is good, but too much can become low self-esteem,” he said.
He also noted that President Prabowo Subianto’s attention to education offers opportunities for youth development, as reflected in initiatives such as the People’s School or Garuda School.
The fruits of education cannot be reaped instantly, but will be seen in the next five to ten years. Education is an investment that must be pursued as early as possible, he remarked.
The deputy minister called on agribusiness students to be bold pioneers, committed to bringing change, because the future of Indonesia’s agriculture lies on their shoulders.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Mecca Yumna
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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