business

SGN: The Agripreneur Sugar Incubator, Cultivating Young Generations To Achieve Sugar Self-Sufficiency

The Indonesian government aims for self-sufficiency in sugar by 2028. To achieve this goal, Indonesia faces significant challenges, particularly in productivity to meet national consumption needs. Despite these challenges, there are great opportunities for young people to get involved in agriculture, especially in sugarcane industry development. To spark interest among the youth in agriculture, an innovative program called the Sugar Agripreneur Incubator has been established.

This program is initiated by PT Sinergi Gula Nusantara (SGN), a subsidiary of Holding Perkebunan Nusantara PTPN III (Persero), which focuses on sugar commodities. It is supported by the Directorate General of Plantations of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture as a solution to connect productivity issues with the role of youth in agriculture.

"We will train and support young people interested in becoming professional agripreneurs to manage sugarcane plantations in a modern, productive, and sustainable way. The sugar business is low risk and profitable," said Mahmudi, the CEO of SGN, after the Sugar Agripreneur Talk Show on Thursday (November 14) in Pekalongan.

Mahmudi added that participants will receive various technical training, business support, and guidance from experts, aiming to strengthen their capacity to build agricultural businesses that positively impact Indonesia's agricultural sector. "Selected participants will manage mini estates, with sugarcane fields ranging from 50 to 100 hectares, run like a company and utilizing technology," he continued.

This initiative has been praised by the CEO of Holding Perkebunan Nusantara PTPN III (Persero), as it encourages young people to become resilient farmers, improving their own welfare and that of other farmers, ultimately contributing to economic growth.

I appreciate the organization of this event by the management of PT SGN. It is not just about improving company performance; it carries a deeper meaning. It encourages young people to engage in farming, not like our fathers and grandfathers, but by using mechanized tools, technology, and digitalization. This ensures transparency through digital means. Let’s work together to achieve food self-sufficiency, which can also lead to better income opportunities compared to other professions, said Mohammad Abdul Ghani in his speech.

The Directorate General of Plantations from the Ministry of Agriculture also expressed similar appreciation, especially regarding SGN's plan to prepare support staff for sugarcane farmers. "I truly appreciate SGN for preparing 2,000 employees to act as advisors or companions for sugarcane farmers. We hope SGN will lead other stakeholders with the developments made through ETERA and the current Agripreneur Sugarcane Incubator program," said Heru Tri Widarto, Acting Director General of Plantations.

For your information, the Agripreneur Sugarcane Incubator has gained significant interest from the younger generation, with 1,110 participants registering in just three days, and they are currently undergoing selection. The process includes initial selection, boot camp, field training, expert mentoring, business incubation, and funding and partnerships. Each stage supports the others to produce young farmers who are ready to compete and make significant contributions to national food security.

The Agripreneur Sugarcane Incubator not only promotes self-sufficiency but also provides opportunities for participants to contribute to national programs, offering various benefits to them.

---

Tag: Agripreneur Sugar Incubator Perkebunan Nusantara SGN