West Papua Millennial Farmers Are Ready to Advance the Agricultural Sector

West Papua Millennial Farmers are involved in Agricultural Technical Training in order to support food availability. The training was attended by 1200 people spread across several points in Papua and West Papua.

This is evidence of the Ministry of Agriculture's commitment to continuously improve the quality of agricultural Human Resources (HR). Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo acknowledged that Papua is a fertile land created by God. "Support of competent human resources can certainly meet Indonesia's food needs," said SYL

“Being a millennial farmer you are amazing, I guarantee you will not be poor. The important thing is that your spirit to fight for the nation must be sincere," he added

The training, which was spearheaded by the Agricultural Human Resources Extension and Development Agency, was of course aimed at improving the skills of millennial farmers in West Papua.

“Efforts to increase the knowledge and competence of millennial farmers are important to do. This is intended so that millennial farmers in Papua and West Papua can be involved in increasing food availability.”

For West Papua, which focuses on Manokwari district, it takes place offline at the Manokwari Agricultural Development Polytechnic (Polbangtan) hall while still implementing the covid-19 protocol.

After the opening of the training, which was opened directly by SYL, the participants were very enthusiastic about participating in the training materials presented by education personnel at Polbangtan Manokwari.

Not just listening to the material, millennial farmers are taught directly by doing the practice of making processed fruit into a food that has added value. Not only for consumption but also can be used as a product that can be marketed.

Millennial farmers are so enthusiastic about being directly involved in making jam from pineapples and bananas. It can be seen from their involvement by mixing the materials that have been provided by the committee.

In addition, participants were also taught marketing techniques by packaging processed products in suitable and attractive containers or packaging so that consumers too could be attracted.

From the training, millennial farmers in West Papua are so grateful for the new knowledge they have gained. Arfita V Mandacan, one of the trainees, has high hopes that the knowledge he has learned today can be applied and open up opportunities to have a business in the future.

"I hope that what was obtained today can also be applied to help advance the agricultural sector in Indonesia, especially West Papua". Says Arfita

SOURCE: https://polbangtanmanokwari.ac.id/petani-millennial-papua-barat-cepat-majukan-sektor-pertanian/