From field to market: training the next generation of farmers in North Sumatra
The client and the challenge
Many young people in Indonesia are leaving agriculture behind. Those who stay often struggle to turn farming into a real business. In North Sumatra, young farmers, extension officers and agricultural graduates face challenges that go beyond technical knowledge, they need more support with climate adaptation, water management, soil health, digital skills, financial record-keeping and access to markets.
The Millennial Farmer Training Programme works within that reality, bringing together 30 participants across two farming environments: 19 millennial farmers aged 20 to 40, drawn from the Food Brigade and Food Estate programmes; 6 agricultural extension officers and technical staff; and 5 graduates of agricultural education institutions, including Polbangtan Medan. This mix is intentional: farmers, extension officers and educators each play a different role in agriculture, so bringing them together helps connect these perspectives.
The programme focuses on three connected areas. First, sustainable agriculture: climate-smart farming, water and soil management, crop diversification and digital tools. Second, agribusiness and entrepreneurship: helping participants run their farms as businesses and connect with markets and finance. Third, institutional collaboration: building stronger links between government, education bodies and development partners, so the programme's impact continues after it ends.
Selected participants will also become Master Trainers, able to pass on what they have learned to other farmers and agricultural workers. This is built into the programme from the start: knowledge that spreads beyond the training room.
The MDF-iCRA alliance was engaged as part of RVO's Combi Track in North Sumatra to help design and deliver this programme, working closely with RVO, local partners and Indonesian government institutions. It runs from December 2025 to May 2027, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, RVO and Nuffic Southeast Asia.
What the MDF-iCRA alliance brings to this programme
This programme is among the first to be delivered under the MDF-iCRA alliance, and it reflects what that partnership was built for. MDF brings expertise in programme coordination, training design, monitoring, organisational development, financial management and inclusive leadership. iCRA contributes knowledge in agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural education and trust-based partnership facilitation.
Within the programme, the two organisations work as one team. MDF Pacific Indonesia leads coordination, training design and partner collaboration. iCRA leads the Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship module and is responsible for peer coaching, programme replication and the development of a Community of Practice. MDF and iCRA also work alongside IPB University, Delphy and Arconesia, who contribute expertise in agriculture, digital farming and technical training, and coordinate closely with the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Extension and Human Resources Development (IAAEHRD) and Polbangtan Medan.
A blended programme built around farming realities
The programme began with a needs assessment, using focus group discussions, interviews and consultations with farmers, government institutions, market actors, financial institutions and agricultural practitioners. The aim was to ensure the programme responded to practical needs rather than applying a generic curriculum across two very different farming contexts.
The training uses a blended learning approach, combining face-to-face sessions, online learning, group work, practical exercises and action planning. It is structured around six modules:
- Climate-Smart and Digital Agriculture
- Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship
- Scaling Up and Access to Finance
- Training of Trainers
- Technical Consolidation and Post-Harvest
- Peer Coaching, Replication and Community of Practice
The first in-person module took place in Serdang Bedagai in June 2026, covering climate-smart agriculture, water and wetland management, soil health, data literacy, crop diversification and digital agriculture. Feedback and assessment findings from that module are being used to refine what follows.
The remaining modules, agribusiness and entrepreneurship, Training of Trainers, technical consolidation and post-harvest management, will be delivered through to May 2027. The programme will also develop a Community of Practice, supported by peer coaching and shared learning among participants. Selected participants will prepare Trainer Action Plans, enabling them to transfer knowledge to other farmers and agricultural actors beyond the programme itself.
