Jakarta – The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, is inviting the younger generation—particularly young entrepreneurs from the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI)—to take part in accelerating the downstreaming of the agricultural sector. This initiative is seen as a strategic move to increase the added value of commodities, create jobs, and strengthen national economic resilience.
This call was delivered directly by Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman during a dialogue event with the extended family of BPD HIPMI Yogyakarta. In the forum, Minister Amran emphasized that downstreaming is a top priority in the future development of the agricultural sector.
“We have been mandated to lead this downstreaming process, but we cannot do it alone. HIPMI must become a strategic partner in carrying out this effort,” said Amran.
He revealed that the employment potential from cultivation to post-harvest processing in plantations could reach 8.6 million people.
According to Amran, commodities such as coconut, cocoa, coffee, cashew, palm oil, and cotton hold vast potential to be developed into high-value derivative products.
“The added value of commodities must remain within the country. We can no longer afford to export raw materials. All plantation products must be processed and absorbed by domestic industries,” he asserted.
Amran cited the huge potential of local coconuts. This commodity can be processed into a variety of derivative products, including virgin coconut oil (VCO), cocopeat, cocofiber, and even bioenergy.
“The value of its derivative products can increase up to 107 times compared to the price of raw coconuts,” he added.
He also noted that Indonesia holds a comparative advantage in its rich natural resources and year-round production. Therefore, he stressed that synergy between the government and stakeholders—including HIPMI—is essential to accelerate downstreaming and strengthen food security.
Responding to this, Chairperson of BPD HIPMI Yogyakarta, Ekawati Rahayu Putri, expressed her commitment to support the downstreaming programs championed by the Ministry of Agriculture.
“Thank you, Mr. Minister, for motivating us. We are ready to take the initiative in gathering young agricultural entrepreneurs to collaborate with the government,” said Ekawati.
Furthermore, she emphasized that HIPMI Yogyakarta is ready to become a driving force for national agricultural development.
“We hope to take part in achieving national food security and self-sufficiency together,” she concluded.
With the involvement of the younger generation in agricultural downstreaming, Indonesia is expected not only to remain a producer of raw commodities but also to emerge as a strong and competitive agriculture-based industrial power.
