Enhancing Young Farmers’ Capacity in Integrated Pest Management for Sustainable Agriculture: A Community-Based Training Approach
Keywords:
Community-based training, Integrated pest management, Literacy, Sustainable agriculture, Young farmerAbstract
Young farmers play a crucial role in promoting sustainable agriculture, yet many lack the necessary knowledge and skills to implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) effectively. The overreliance on chemical pesticides in conventional farming has led to environmental degradation, increased pest resistance, and health risks. To address this issue, a community-based training program was conducted in Bungaraya, Indonesia, targeting young farmers from Sanggar Tani Muda and students from SMKN 1 Bungaraya, Siak, Indonesia. The training aimed to enhance their capacity in IPM. The program was implemented through seminars and hands-on workshops, covering key aspects of IPM such as pest identification, biological control, and the use of botanical pesticides. The impact of the training was assessed through pre-test and post-test evaluations, with statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test indicating a significant improvement in participants' knowledge and skills (p-value = 1.86 × 10⁻⁹). As part of the program’s outputs, a training module on IPM was developed and published for broader dissemination. The results suggest that community-based training is an effective approach to equipping young farmers with the necessary competencies in sustainable pest management. Future initiatives should focus on scaling up similar training programs and ensuring continuous mentoring to support young farmers in transitioning towards environmentally responsible agricultural practices.
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