Syngenta Empowers Female Farmers to Boost Food Security

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Syngenta Indonesia officially launched the "Perempuan Tani Syngenta Raih Impian" (PUTRI) Petani MAJU community in Batang, Central Java to transform the agricultural sector by positioning women as the primary catalysts for productivity and sustainability.

Launched on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, it coincided with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF). The launch event was attended by 450 female farmers along with top global executives, including Syngenta Crop Protection President, Steve Hawkins, and Syngenta Indonesia President Director, Eryanto.

Syngenta Indonesia is a company specializing in the marketing of seeds, pesticides, and biotechnology research. The ceremony featured a traditional gejog lesung procession, symbolizing the collective hard work and hope that form the community’s foundation.

"When we train one woman, we empower a family. When we empower #PUTRIPETANIMAJU, we empower the entire Indonesian nation," said Eryanto during the briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.

Despite their vital contributions, the 4.2 million female farmers recorded in Indonesia as of 2025 face a steep uphill battle. While they are active across the entire value chain, from seed selection to post-harvest processing, only 10% to 20% currently have adequate access to technology, financing, and markets.

Eryanto pointed to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data suggesting that closing this resource gap could boost crop yields by up to 30%, a figure critical to the government's food security targets. Furthermore, the initiative seeks to address the persistent wage gap, where female laborers often earn less than their male counterparts for identical work and hours.

For the women on the ground, the community represents a shift from invisibility to leadership. Annisa, a representative for the local farmers, delivered a stirring declaration, urging her peers to recognize their own worth.

"Female farmers should not feel inferior because we are special and extraordinary. We are not just the pillars of food security for our families, but also for the nation," she said.

By fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration between the private sector and local administration, Syngenta aims to turn these individual efforts into a coordinated movement for an inclusive and self-sufficient agricultural future. ***