TULUNGAGUNG – Young farmers in Tulungagung still account for less than 10 percent of the region’s agricultural workforce, raising concern over the long-term future of local farming.

Agricultural officials say the low number has become a serious challenge because most active farmers now belong to older age groups.

Anang Ismindanto, head of the district agricultural extension working team, said weak interest among younger generations continues to slow farmer regeneration.

He noted that agriculture still plays an important role in supporting household income across many parts of Tulungagung.

To address the issue, the government introduced the Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Support Services program, widely known as YESS, from 2021 to 2025.

The program targets young people by offering practical skills, agricultural knowledge, and business guidance.

“Through the YESS program, young people receive training and business assistance. The goal is to make them interested in developing agricultural businesses,” Anang said.

Over five years, the program reached 10,927 beneficiaries in Tulungagung.

Participants joined basic training, advanced courses, and direct mentoring for agricultural business development.

They also had the chance to compete for grant funding to support business plans they had prepared.

Officials designed that scheme to encourage participants to start independent agricultural ventures.

Anang said the program expects alumni to go beyond building personal businesses.

They also encourage other young people to enter agriculture by sharing experience and showing practical results.

“We encourage our alumni to become drivers of change and show that agriculture also offers business opportunities,” he said.

Despite that effort, Anang admitted that farmer regeneration remains difficult.

Older farmers still dominate the sector across most rural areas.

Limited access to land also discourages younger people from entering agriculture.

Many young residents still believe farming offers uncertain income and slower financial returns.

Because of that perception, many choose non-agricultural jobs that provide quicker and more predictable earnings.

That trend has made regeneration move more slowly than actual field needs require.

Agricultural officials hope future programs will continue supporting young farmer development.

They believe sustained policy support is necessary to keep local agriculture productive and secure future food supply.

“We hope programs like this will continue,” Anang said.