Young Girls Become Young Farmers

 by Musdalifa

Assalamualaikum, my name is Musdalifa, often called Musda. Born in Sinjai on May 10 2000. That means I am currently 20 years old. People say I am a person who doesn’t talk much, is an introvert, and really likes agriculture. For this reason, here I will tell you about my experience so that I liked agriculture and chose to become a young farmer.

There is no life without farmers

For me, farming is an art of life that will always exist for all time. That’s my life philosophy.

Coming from a farming family, I am used to living in the heat under the hot sun. When my father was alive, helping him in the garden was a must. Like or dislike. Likewise with mother. Working as a farmer and as a vegetable trader who sells various types of vegetables every day means that I often help him sell. So it’s not surprising that I like agriculture more than other fields.

Starting from Biology Practicum

Practical material about plant growth and development in class 12 of high school was the beginning of my interest in becoming a farmer. At that time, I chose long bean plants as research material. I carried out the research process for one month. Undergoing this process is not easy, and that is why I concluded that the profession as a farmer requires patience and tenacity in carrying it out.

Learn about Cultivation via Smartphone and Nearby Farmers

After graduating from high school, I could no longer continue my education. I can’t continue my dream of studying agriculture at a well-known university. One of the reasons is because I have minimal funds. This caused me to stay in the village accompanying my mother selling vegetables.

Every afternoon I used to sit on the terrace of the house, playing on my cellphone while looking at several types of plants in the yard, especially long bean plants which at that time my mother was picking to make vegetables.

“How much does a bunch of long beans cost at the market, ma’am?” I asked my mother.

“Still Rp. 2000 per bunch.” Mother answered.

“Then I want to plant long beans, ma’am, in the land behind the house. The results will be good for vegetables and can increase the buyer quota. Hehehe.” I said to Mother.

“Up to you. If it’s serious, tomorrow I’ll buy seeds.” My mother replied then she went to the kitchen.

Hearing that answer, I started learning about techniques for cultivating long bean plants through the YouTube application. Many channels discuss cultivating this plant. I also watched several videos to gather information.

Apart from my cellphone, I also asked vegetable farmers who live not far from my house. I got a lot of information that day, including regarding the correct way to cultivate land, capital, energy and patience in caring for long bean plants, especially in the rainy season. The next day, I started learning to cultivate the land. Not wide, only 10 x 10 meters. I process it myself and use livestock manure as basic fertilizer. Next, on the bed I made a planting hole and mother helped put the seeds into the planting hole. Two months later, the time to harvest the long beans arrived. The first harvest is around 15 bunches and the price is still Rp. 2000. The sales proceeds at that time were IDR 30,000. I am happy because my struggle was not in vain and I have returned my capital.

The second and subsequent harvests continue to grow and the proceeds from each sale can meet my daily needs, including quota. Hehehe.

Scorn and invitations to change professions come from various parties

2 years have passed, I am still a farmer. Various invitations came from family and even neighbors. They came to invite me to migrate to the city and even outside the island. They suggested that I look for another job on the grounds that farming made me look older than other girls my age.

That statement initially made me insecure. Apart from her status as a young girl, it was also because the price of vegetables had plummeted at that time.

Cultivation Results Become the Answer

Apart from long beans, I also cultivate various other types of plants, such as cucumbers, spinach, mustard greens, corn and kale, with the help of my nephew. From the sales of vegetables, many of my needs can be met, such as clothes, quota, and I can even have a new cellphone. Apart from that, since I chose to remain a vegetable farmer, my family’s vegetable needs can be met without having to buy them, and many neighbors are even happy because they can also enjoy them for free.

Until finally I dismissed the sneer and continued my profession as a vegetable farmer.

Keep Farming During the Pandemic

Currently, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the prices of several types of vegetables have plummeted. However, that doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm to continue being a farmer. Cucumbers and long beans are two types of plants that I cultivate during this pandemic because the selling price of both remains stable.

During the pandemic, the recommendation to stay at home was a must, so my enthusiasm to continue learning about farming was even higher, and several teenage children from my neighbors even came to my house to learn vegetable cultivation techniques. Even though they have to comply with health protocols, that doesn’t hinder their intention to take part in studying. Currently, we end up doing the same profession, namely vegetable farming. Because according to them, farming is currently an alternative way to keep learning and at the same time be able to meet the family’s needs. Apart from saving money, the family is also healthy because our planting pattern is an organic cultivation pattern.

Farmers Are Heroes

8 months have passed, the Covid-19 pandemic is not over. Everyone needs to eat and of course healthy food so that more and more people are taking up the profession of farming. Even President Jokowi hopes that the younger generation will not have to be ashamed of becoming farmers. The government hopes that one day, agriculture can become a pillar of economic growth. Apart from that, the government also revealed that currently the agricultural sector is the most able to survive and has even increased its income during the pandemic compared to other sectors.

This proves that agriculture is a convincing and promising sector for the younger generation and this makes me even more confident and will not be ashamed to become a farmer even though my status is a girl. Because for me a farmer is a hero, a nation’s food hero. Because heroes are those whose lives are useful for others.

For this reason, friends of the younger generation, let us think together about making agriculture one of our dreams. Namely the dream of becoming an Independent, Inspirational and Successful Young Farmer in the future.

Because,
If not us, who else?
If not now when?

Greetings Young Farmers