From Challenges to Success: Adi’s Journey with Youth-Led Agri-Food Program

East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) remains one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia, with 1.12 million people living in poverty (Central Bureau of Statistics, 2024). The region faces multiple challenges, including lack of job opportunities, limited access to education, and inadequate infrastructure. These factors have severely hampered the living conditions of the local communities particularly in South Central Timor (TTS) Regency, which has the highest number of impoverished residents (117,000 people) and stunting rate (8,924 cases) in the province (NTT Central Bureau of Statistics, 2024). These realities make daily life difficult for many, including Adi, a 29-year-old woman navigating the socioeconomic struggles.

Born into a large family with 11 siblings, Adi grew up in a household where her father works as a farmer and livestock breeder with minimum income. After graduating from high school in 2016, Adi faced limited job opportunities, which forced her to migrate. “Leaving the village was the best option I had.. I followed my friends to find work elsewhere,” said Adi.

In 2017-2021, Adi moved to Bali then Mataram working in various odd jobs.  in both places she only earned a monthly income of up to IDR 2 million. The situation worsened when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, which forced Adi to return to TTS. Upon her return, Adi helped her parents and siblings to cultivate their land in order to secure daily food supplies.

In 2024, Adi was selected to join the Youth-Led Agri-food (YLAF) program, implemented by Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia). Supported by Citi Foundation, the YLAF program aimed to improve farming and livestock management skills for young people in TTS, particularly to increase food security and reduce the prevalence of stunting in the area.

Adi and her peers formed ‘Semut Putih’ farming group, where they learned how to use agricultural tools, and received seedlings for various crops, and learned to farm laying hens. After almost a year, Adi’s efforts have started to paid off. She now independently manages a 4-are plot with 18 beds, cultivating tomato, white mustard greens, and bok choy cabbage. For each three-month harvest cycle, she is able to achieve a gross income of IDR 10 million. Additionally, Adi also earned a gross cumulative income (shared with her groupmates) of IDR 7.2 million per month from the sale of eggs. “This income is essential for supporting my family. I can now provide pocket money for my younger siblings, take care of for my baby, and save the rest of the money to buy more seeds,” she explained.

Adi dreams of growing her business further and hope that her husband, who is currently working in Kalimantan, can return home and reunite with her and their one-year-old baby.

“I look forward to the day when our family can be together again. Thank you YLAF, I have hope for a better future,” Adi concluded.

Writer: Agus Haru

Editor: Masajeng Rahmiasri