Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines - Fisal Hafiz represented JAMTANI at the first Asia-Pacific Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics (YFCA) held spectacularly at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Laguna, Philippines, on August 12-16, 2024. The event brought together 120 young farmers, fishermen, ranchers and forest users from 20 countries in the Asia and Pacific region to take part in the agrilympics, promote sustainable agriculture, encourage agricultural innovation, build networks and highlight agriculture as a viable career option.
In this modern era, agriculture is often seen as a less attractive career choice for the younger generation. According to the Food And Agriculture Organization (FAO), around 65%-75% of young people in rural areas are not interested in working in agriculture. The main factors influencing this view include limited access to land, inadequate training, lack of funding and the impact of climate change such as prolonged droughts and unpredictable growing seasons, adding to the challenges for young farmers.
Reflecting on these issues, the Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), the International Cooperative Alliance- Asia Pacific, and the Pacific Farmers Organisation (PFO) collaborated in organizing the Asia-Pacific Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics (YFCA). The event invited delegates from various countries to participate in a series of activities under the theme “Strengthening the Engagement of Young Farmers in Cooperatives and Organizations to Contribute to a Safe, Fair and Resilient Food Community.”
YFCA aims to raise awareness among young farmers to see agriculture as a viable career for young people. There are several parts to this YFCA activity, ranging from Plenary Sessions, Knowledge Market Share Fair, World café, Climate action, skills lab where participants are encouraged to think creatively related to cooperative and organizational governance, innovative agricultural initiatives, facilitate exchange and learning between young farmers and mentors, and inspire the establishment of a platform or network of young farmers in the region. To further motivate young farmers, the event also featured young farmer entrepreneurs who are pioneering the transition to climate-resilient agriculture across the continent.
JAMTANI (JARINGAN MASYARAKAT TANI INDONESIA) through one of its young farmers, Fisal Hafiz, actively participated in a series of activities, one of which was the Knowledge Market Share Fair. Fisal won “Best Product for Value Addition” and “Most Innovative Youth-Led Initiative”. The award was obtained for the presentation of the introduction and innovation of products produced and marketed by JAMTANI Cooperative, namely Palm Oil, Organic Bricket Fertilizer, Grape Leaf Chips, Spinach Chips, Banana Sale, and Ant Sugar.
With JAMTANI's participation in this event, it is hoped that the knowledge and experience gained can be applied in fostering generations of young farmers. By recognizing that agriculture can be an attractive and potentially lucrative career choice, as well as providing the necessary support, the ultimate goal is to increase the young generation's interest in the sector. The importance of nurturing a new and competent generation of farmers cannot be underestimated, especially in the face of the challenges of an aging farming population and the need for innovation in agriculture.
