Governor of West Sumatra Opens Agri Youth Talks 2025, Encourages Youth to Drive Modern Agriculture

Padang, September 18, 2025 – The Governor of West Sumatra, Mahyeldi Ansharullah, officially opened Agri Youth Talks 2025 at the Governor’s Auditorium. The forum brought together government representatives, academia, industry players, and young generations to discuss efforts toward achieving corn self-sufficiency and advancing modern agriculture in West Sumatra.

The event was attended by key stakeholders, including members of the Indonesian House of Representatives, regional government officials, law enforcement representatives, university leaders, agritech companies, fintech associations, and hundreds of students and academics.

Cross-Sector Collaboration for Modern Agriculture

In his remarks, Governor Mahyeldi emphasized that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed during the forum reflects a concrete step toward strengthening the agricultural sector.

The provincial government continues to encourage the utilization of idle land to increase productivity, particularly through corn cultivation as part of the region’s food security strategy.

“Young people must have the courage to transform agriculture into a modern, productive, and promising sector. Future challenges from climate change to market dynamics require a new generation of farmers equipped with financial literacy, digital skills, and business management capabilities,” said Mahyeldi.

According to data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2024, West Sumatra produced approximately 742,492 tons of corn from 83,918 hectares, with an average productivity of 61.76 quintals per hectare. However, regional demand reaches around 2.4 million tons annually, indicating significant room for growth.

The Role of Youth in Agricultural Transformation

The Governor also highlighted the importance of youth involvement in transforming agriculture.

Various successful initiatives across West Sumatra, ranging from coffee development in Solok, organic farming, hydroponics in Padang, to horticulture commodities, demonstrate that agriculture is increasingly driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

This shift reflects the growing perception of agriculture as a future-oriented sector with strong economic potential.

MEKAR’s Contribution to Agricultural Development

As part of the ecosystem involved in the forum, PT Mekar Investama Teknologi (MEKAR) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the agricultural sector through impact-driven financing.

President Director of MEKAR, Pandu Aditya Kristy, emphasized the importance of collaboration in strengthening the agricultural ecosystem.

“This is a key momentum for all stakeholders to collaborate in achieving food self-sufficiency in West Sumatra,” he stated.

Through partnerships with local stakeholders, MEKAR and its ecosystem have initiated the development of approximately 300 hectares of previously idle land in Lubuk Alung, which had remained unused for over 35 years. The land is now being cultivated with corn and is planned to expand to other areas across the province.

Strengthening a Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystem

MEKAR’s involvement reflects its broader approach to connecting financing with real-sector activities.

By integrating financing with production, MEKAR aims to enhance productivity, strengthen supply chains, and create new economic opportunities for local communities.

The collaboration between government, private sector, and young talents is expected to serve as a strong foundation for building a more modern, productive, and sustainable agricultural sector.

Toward Food Security and Future Agriculture

Agri Youth Talks 2025 marks an important step in strengthening cross-sector collaboration to accelerate agricultural transformation in Indonesia.

With active participation from young generations and support from various stakeholders, the agricultural sector is expected to play a key role in advancing national food security and inclusive economic growth.