On July 23, 2025, in Serdang Bedagai District, Indonesia, HarvestPlus Solutions launched a pilot training titled “Strengthening and Developing Farmer Group Enterprises”—a program designed to improve jobs, trigger entrepreneurship, and increase incomes among smallholder farmers, particularly from vulnerable populations.

The training brought together 32 farmer representatives from the local Farmers Group Association, Gapoktan Harapan, and was facilitated by Muhammad Yazid, a seasoned expert in farmer institution development from Sriwijaya University. The village head, Ali Ahmad Sopian Hasibuan, in his opening remarks, expressed gratitude for the selection of the village as a pilot site and voiced high hopes that this capacity-building effort would translate into economically viable ventures for local farmers.

The training focused on equipping farmer groups with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to manage group enterprises that generate real economic value. It presented four practical and scalable agricultural enterprise models tailored to rural contexts:

• Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Services (Alsintan)
  Farmers explored the business potential of offering services using four-wheel tractors and combine harvesters—machinery that enhances farming efficiency while creating jobs and income streams.
• Savings and Farming Credit Management
  Emphasizing self-reliance, this session guided groups on establishing internal savings systems and fair credit access, enabling them to finance inputs and operations without dependence on predatory lenders.
• Provision of Agricultural Inputs (Saprodi)
  Participants learned how to manage group-level seeds, fertilizers, and pesticide supplies, including access to biofortified rice seeds—an approach that supports both sustainable farming and group entrepreneurship.
• Processing, Storage, and Marketing of Agricultural Products
  Farmers gained insights on transforming raw harvests into premium rice products, with techniques in storage and marketing designed to boost product value and reach wider markets.

A highlight of the day was a focused session on biofortified rice, emphasizing its superior nutritional content—particularly zinc—and its role in improving household health and nutrition. Participants learned about its agronomic advantages, including strong yield potential, making it not only a nutritious but also a profitable choice.

Throughout the training, record-keeping was underscored as a foundational practice for transparency, evaluation, and informed decision-making—key traits of successful enterprises.

This pilot showed how farmer groups can transition from subsistence to sustainability. By building entrepreneurial capacity and institutional resilience, initiatives like these are unlocking new pathways for increased incomes, improved jobs, and long-term economic empowerment for farming communities across Indonesia.