The Wriggle of Sumbanese Young Farmer:

Based on Innovation and Technology

Frans Fredi Kalikit Bara, one of the activator of PMPM

Republic of Indonesia is known as an agricultural country having abundant potencies of natural resources. The statement illustrates that Indonesia has a potency to be one of  world food contributors that can provide its own needs and have export policies on agricultural products to other countries.

East Sumba regency also has a similar statement on abundant natural resources. They should be able to support the regional food needs. Rice demand in East Sumba regency is quite high, recorded from 2012 requiring 17.907 tons, while in 2015 it surged to 84.715 tons, and in 2016 slightly decreased to 17.514 tons (Sumba Timur dalam angka, 2018: 277 )

The data illustrated that East Sumba regency still needs rice supply from other island to cover its needs. Based on the observation at Matawai market, Waingapu, several types of horticultural plants are still fulfilled from other islands. The plants include carrots, potatoes, garlic, shallots, chillies, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, fruits and several others.

It needs good cooperation among farmers, government and civil society to fulfill food needs in Sumba especially in East Sumba. The regeneration of agriculture in Sumba is the resposiblitiy of young people, in order to make agriculture in Sumba better and sustainable in the future. For now the development of the agricultural sector should be based on innovation and technology. There are basic things why agricultural innovation should be implemented in Sumba, namely: 1) through movement of innovation and technology the agricultural production will increase, so that market demand will be fulfilled, 2) conventional farming methods will change to modern agriculture, 3) if the demand in Sumba is fulfilled then automatically the export policy will follow.

The innovation and technology movement have begun to be implemented in East Sumba regency. The movements itself was carried out by Young Farmer of Red Arrow (PMPM) Sumba and several students of Stube-HEMAT Sumba also took part in several stages, namely the process of making seedbed, installing plastic mulch and planting seeds.

The business strategy carried out by PMPM Sumba in building business in horticultural agriculture is a partnership business. It is a strategy where each member equally active in production, distribution, promotion, product marketing and motivating other members. In addition to partnership strategy, PMPM Sumba also centralize production, where each member choose one type of flagship commodity and learn to be expert for it. Simply, PMPM Sumba try to give added value to the potency of the natural resources they have, so they give positive impact on economic growth.

Young Farmer is Indonesia's food regeneration, so it is normal that the responsibility is delegated to young people so the future of Indonesia's food and also Sumba will be improved for the sake of community's prosperity. (FRD).