RYTHM Foundation and Plan International Indonesia recently launched the ‘Green Skills Project’ in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. The programme addresses two urgent issues in the district: the environmental damage caused by conventional farming and the stark gender imbalance in agriculture.
Agriculture underpins Manggarai’s economy, but unsustainable practices have harmed ecosystems and exposed small farmers to climate shocks. Women, meanwhile, remain largely excluded from the sector.
Youth unemployment deepens the challenge. Many graduates struggle to find meaningful work even as agriculture drives the local economy. The Green Skills Project responds by equipping young people — especially women — to lead in greener, more inclusive farming.
Equipping Youth for Green Skills Project
The key highlights of the project include:
- Training 200 youth aged 18 to 29 (60% women) in Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) with Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles.
- Supporting 10 youth farmer groups in six villages to develop CSA business plans.
- Partnering with the Manggarai District Agriculture Office and local financial institutions for technical and financial support.
- Nurturing youth champions, especially women, who can be role models for inclusive farming in their communities.
Herybertus Geradus Laju Nabit, the Regent of Manggarai, welcomed the programme, noting how it fitted with the government’s development priorities.
“The government is encouraging ecological agriculture using household yards for food production. This approach reduces household expenses and creates employment for youth, especially women,” he said.
Toward a Sustainable Future for Manggarai
The RYTHM-Plan Indonesia partnership aims to strengthen the project’s reach and long-term impact. The Head of RYTHM Foundation, Santhi Periasamy, emphasised the importance of giving young people, especially women, the tools to transform their communities.
“Youth have the energy, creativity, and drive to shape a more sustainable future. By investing in them, we are addressing unemployment and ensuring that farming in Manggarai becomes more resilient and inclusive,” she said.
The project also aligns closely with Manggarai’s vision of becoming an advanced, just, and competitive district.
With youth and women at its heart, the initiative aims to spark a new generation of farmers who can drive ecological sustainability and social progress.
