The Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a Pre-Graduation Briefing for Bachelor’s Degree Candidates on 18 November, 2024, at the Prof. Harjono Danoesastro Auditorium. The event was attended by 140 prospective graduates and featured Sri Lestari, S.M., Director of CV Tirta Fertindo Pratama, who delivered a talk titled “Keys to Success in Agricultural Entrepreneurship,” aimed at equipping the graduates with insights and skills, particularly in developing entrepreneurial mindsets.
Sri Lestari, commonly known as Tari, has been involved in agricultural entrepreneurship since 2014. Her business focuses on hydroponic systems, agricultural product marketing, greenhouse construction, seed and fertilizer supply, as well as agritourism education and catering services. For her, agriculture is a promising business field—particularly in the fruit and vegetable sectors—due to their high demand and commercial value.
“In addition to strong demand, quality fruits and vegetables have high commercial value, allowing a quick return on investment. Agriculture is also a legacy-worthy field. With modern farming systems, we can inspire younger generations to become millennial farmers,” explained Tari.
She encouraged the soon-to-be graduates to make the most of any available land—regardless of size—as a step toward supporting national food security. Productive land management, she said, contributes to the government’s food self-sufficiency efforts and presents opportunities to generate useful agricultural yields.
In her presentation, Sri Lestari shared five key steps to success in agricultural entrepreneurship, which she described as the 5Ds: Dream, Data, Drive, Dedicate, and Duit (money). “Dream” represents having a clear vision to stay motivated; “Data” involves gathering information and mapping out the business plan; “Drive” stands for a strong determination to operate and grow the business; “Dedicate” refers to full commitment to the chosen field; and “Duit” emphasizes the importance of wisely managing capital to sustain the business.
As an entrepreneur, Tari also shared practical success strategies, including marketing through farm tourism, direct selling, exhibitions, education programs, and online platforms. She emphasized the importance of using quality seeds, efficient fertilization, pest control, skilled human resources, and the application of modern technologies—such as automatic greenhouses, hydroponics, and drones—to boost productivity and maintain adherence to SOPs.
In her message, Sri Lestari encouraged the future graduates to be brave enough to create job opportunities, no matter how small the impact.
“If you can’t yet hire many people, hire a few. If that’s still not possible, focus on running the business yourself first to fully understand the process. That way, when you do hire others, you’ll value each step of the work more,” said Tari.
This entrepreneurship-oriented session highlights the Faculty of Agriculture UGM’s commitment to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Writer: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami
Documentation: Media Faperta