As YOUTH, have you ever imagined being a farmer and been far away from professions that use digital platform which nowadays becomes a trend? I do it couples of time whether or not I can be a farmer but of course in a different manner if we compare it with a common Indonesian farmer which should be more effective and well managed.

On 24-25 October 2018, an event by collaborative institutions which are ASEAN Foundation and its partners entitled Asean Exchange Visit was held in Yogyakarta. The theme of this event is strengthening the role of Agricultural cooperatives in the coconut value chain management and job creations in rural areas. The event was followed by ASEAN state members’ representatives which are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philipphines, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand and also Pacific Islands Forum members’ representatives. The topics that were discussed by them was how to increase farming product value especially coconuts into a proper product which have a higher value. It can be a promising business and conserving what our predecessors had done which was farming.

What I need to highlight is that youths nowadays have less interest in farming. They tend to choose working as employees in a downtown area and leaving their family’s lands which can be utilized as a farming area. Perhaps, for them, being a farmer is not cool, tiring, exhausting, and having less prestige. But, what is the difference with being an employee who is sometimes under pressure because of the company’s target. So what is the point? The salary they get is maybe higher rather than what farmers get, but we can turn it over into farming which causes higher income if we can farm in an effective way. We’ll be the boss of our own belongings.

If you guys have same interests with me, please feel free to share it with me. I have a plan to help and empower farmers in a rural area by creating a project that include local people there. You may join me, so please contact me. Let’s make everything possible. Thank you 🙂