UNS – Students from Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, under the banner of the Karanganyar Berdaya Team, initiated a social project supported by the Pertamina Foundation (PF) in Mojogedang Subdistrict, Karanganyar Regency, on Sunday (24/11/2024). The project marks the team’s first step toward enhancing farmer regeneration in Karanganyar, with activities planned to continue through January 2025.

The team secured funding from PF through its sociopreneur program, which aims to empower youth as social entrepreneurs. This program focuses on three key areas: education, economy, and environment. By organizing various activities and initiatives, PF seeks to inspire young people to create ventures that are financially profitable while also positively impacting society.

The socialization event served as the pilot project for Karanganyar Berdaya, implemented by UNS students in collaboration with Taruna Tani Lestari, a youth farmer association in Gentungan Village, Karanganyar. The initiative aims to raise awareness among young people about the importance and potential of the agricultural sector.

“We hope to establish a taruna tani (youth farmer group) in every village, eventually uniting them in a district-wide forum. We’ve observed that many young individuals are interested in agriculture but lack proper platforms for support and empowerment. That’s where we step in to address this gap,” explained Perdana Mangayu Bagyo, Chair of Karanganyar Berdaya.

Perdana further noted that the initiative has received support from Gentungan Village officials. Moving forward, the team plans to collaborate with various stakeholders, including the Agriculture Department, Tourism, Youth, and Sports Department, Karanganyar Regency Government, and other organizations that can contribute to agricultural development.

In an interview with uns.ac.id on Monday (25/11/2024), Perdana expressed his hope that support from Pertamina, UNS, and the government would inspire more young people to enter the agricultural field. He also envisioned this effort fostering ventures that benefit society by boosting the economy and advancing knowledge.

“We hope that with support from Pertamina, UNS, and the government, we can spark and increase youth interest in agriculture. Moreover, we aim for this initiative to generate enterprises that benefit the community, both economically and academically,” he concluded.

The efforts of Karanganyar Berdaya align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2 on sustainable agricultural systems and Goal 17, emphasizing the importance of global partnerships. Collaboration among institutions and private sectors in research, technology development, and investment in agriculture can accelerate the achievement of food security and improve farmer welfare.

HUMAS UNS