On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, the Law and International Relations Study Programs, Faculty of Humanities, President University (Presuniv), held another installment of the Presuniv x United Nations seminar series. This seminar featured Rajendra Aryal, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) Representative in Indonesia, and Timor Leste, who discussed the topic “Towards Sustainable Agrifood Systems.” The seminar took place in the Charles Himawan Auditorium, 5th floor of Building A, Presuniv Campus, Jl. Ki Hajar Dewantara, Kota Jababeka, Cikarang, and was attended by various faculty members and students from several study programs.
Dr. M. Syafi’i Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, highlighted in his opening remarks the significant impact of climate change. He explained that climate change not only degrades soil but also triggers various natural disasters. “No country is immune to the impacts of natural disasters,” said Syafi’i. He further emphasized, “The UN urges us to change our mindset and behavior to act in a more environmentally friendly way. We do this not just for ourselves but for future generations.”
President University Rector Handa S. Abidin, SH, LL.M., Ph.D., began his speech by asking, “Who among the students here wants to become a farmer?” Only a few hands were raised. Handa remarked that despite the crucial role farmers play in sustaining human life, very few show any interest in becoming one. “If only a few of us aspire to be farmers, Indonesia will face a shortage of farmers in the future,” he warned. To increase student interest in agriculture, Handa challenged students to compete in building agriculture-based technology startups.
In his presentation, Rajendra noted, “The current generation prefers to seek opportunities in cities rather than staying in rural areas. In cities, they can become anything, unlike in the villages.” He presented data indicating that about 80% of farmers are currently aged 40 years or older. “So, if no young people want to become farmers, in 40 years, there will be no farmers left,” Rajendra cautioned. Responding to Handa’s idea of encouraging students to build agricultural startups, Rajendra praised it as an excellent initiative. (Graciella V, PR team. Photo: Graciella V).