Urban farming lures Indonesia's youth back to the field
Updated 15:42, 26-Dec-2018
By Silkina Ahluwalia
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Soraya Cassandra, better known as Sandra, has always been passionate about sustainable living. She and her husband are the duo behind a new organization in Indonesia called Kebun Kumara. Both teach volunteers at their garden about modern agriculture and organic planting.
Indonesia is working to achieve self-sufficiency in food. The farming industry has a reputation of being an old-fashioned profession. Such a negative perception has led many of the younger generation to uproot their homes in villages on the outskirts of Jakarta and move into urban areas, leaving the country's agricultural industry in dire need of revival.
Sandra says creating awareness about urban farming has been challenging, but since they started the organization more young people are becoming attracted to farming in the city. 
"It's a bit strange to farm in the city setting. When they see our farm and look at all of the stuff that we've grown, they're quite surprised. So I think they're used to thinking that farming is only for farmers who live in a greener setting, in larger landscapes, they don't know that they could grow many vegetables in their own backyard, even vertical farming, farming on the wall. They didn't realize that could be done, so I think the challenge is debunking a lot of myths and a lot of limitations that they put on themselves in terms of farming," said Sandra. 
Sandra founded Kebun Kumara with her husband in 2016. Since then, the organization has organized hundreds of educational meetups with both children and adults. /CGTN Photo

Sandra founded Kebun Kumara with her husband in 2016. Since then, the organization has organized hundreds of educational meetups with both children and adults. /CGTN Photo

The agricultural industry is crucial to Indonesia's growing economy. About 45 percent of Indonesian workers are employed in this sector and it makes up more than 14 percent of the country's GDP.
With organizations like Kebun Kumara, the country's youth is able to be inspired and to learn about the importance of sustaining this sector.
Maula Paramitha Wulandaru is a network facilitator at AgriProFocus Indonesia. Her aim is to continuously find young and innovative people to become involved in their new initiative "Young Farmers Ambassador Program."
The Indonesian government has been actively helping the program as well by providing incentives such as start-up capital and subsidized fertilizers.
Kebun Kumara is educating the young generation on the importance of urban farming. /CGTN Photo

Kebun Kumara is educating the young generation on the importance of urban farming. /CGTN Photo

Maula says it's crucial for people to keep investing in and expanding the local farming industry.
"The sector needs brainpower to revive the industry both on and off the farm. The younger generation can become the leaders we need to come up with new solutions and innovation using technology. Our global population is continuously increasing so this can make good business because food security will always be a priority," said Maula.
Kebun Kumara is already beginning to revive Indonesia's declining profession by educating young volunteers that urban farming in big cities is not impossible and showing them the importance of upholding Indonesia's reputation as an agrarian nation.