On Thursday, October 5, 2023, an enthusiastic atmosphere filled the Eastparc Hotel Yogyakarta. The Department of Agricultural Socioeconomics, Faculty of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) is again holding its annual event, the National Seminar on Agricultural Socioeconomics. Since 2014, this activity has become a regular event that raises significant themes related to various research in the socio-economic field of agriculture. This year’s theme is “Transformation of Indonesian Agriculture towards Agriculture that is Efficient, Inclusive, Competitive, Sustainable and Prosperous for Farmers.”
At this event, a number of prominent speakers were invited to share their thoughts and experiences. Keynote Speaker Dida Gardera, S.T., M.Sc. as Expert Staff for Connectivity, Services Development, and Natural Resources, opened the event by discussing the Transformation of Indonesian Agriculture towards a Golden Indonesia 2045. He highlighted crucial issues in the food and agricultural sectors. He emphasized that the agricultural sector needs adaptation and improvement mitigation to face future challenges.
The material presentation session by three main speakers delved deeper into the themes raised in this activity. Prof. Dr. Jamhari, S.P., M.P., (Professor from the UGM Department of Agricultural Socioeconomics) discussed the Institutional Transformation of Indonesian Agriculture. He emphasized the need for strong institutions in agricultural transformation in his speech. According to him, the key to change is through holding, consolidation, agricultural modernization, the formation of young local agricultural entrepreneurs, as well as cooperation between farmer groups, agricultural cooperatives, and various partner companies, such as BUMN, BUMD, BUMDES, and the private industry.
R.R. Yuli Sri Wilanti, S.Pi., M.P., (Assistant Deputy for Horticulture Agribusiness Development, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs) discussed the Indonesian Agricultural Commodity Supply Chain transformation. In his speech, he underlined the importance of overcoming the problems of the horticultural sector through closed-loop agri-horticultural partnerships. This model involves various stakeholders and is based on a digital ecosystem, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) cultivation techniques, an efficient distribution system, and guaranteed competitive price markets.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dwi Indra Purnomo (Lecturer at Padjadjaran University – Founder of “The Local Enabler”) discussed Inclusive Agriculture towards a Golden Indonesia 2045. He designed an inclusive strategy involving the government, private sector, farming communities, civil development organizations, and non-governmental organizations. This cross-sectoral collaboration ensures that innovation and technology are accessible to all levels of agricultural society, making them agents of change toward a more fair, prosperous, and sustainable Indonesia in 2045.
This seminar not only focuses on the speeches of the main speakers but also covers six important sub-themes for each research presented in parallel session sessions. The six themes include:
1. Improvement and Optimization of Farming Business.
2. Information and Communication Technology for Agricultural Development.
3. Human Resources in the Agricultural Sector.
4. Agricultural Institutions and Financing.
5. Climate Change and Agricultural Business Sustainability.
6. Agribusiness and Agroindustry Management.
The participation of participants consisting of academics, practitioners, and students created a collaborative atmosphere for the better development of Indonesia’s agricultural sector. Through this activity, the spirit of togetherness and cooperation between the community, academic community, researchers, government, private industry, and society can grow and develop. In this way, Indonesia can achieve its dream of efficient, inclusive, competitive, sustainable, and prosperous agriculture for farmers, making Indonesia a brilliant country in the agricultural sector in the future.