Hendra Hendra, Nuhfil Hanani, Moh. Khusaini, Rosihan Asmara
Youth disengagement from agriculture poses a critical challenge to the sustainability of food systems and rural livelihoods in many developing countries, including Indonesia. As the agricultural workforce continues to age, understanding the drivers of youth participation and its implications for household welfare has become increasingly urgent. This study aims to analyze the factors influencing youth participation in the agricultural sector and to assess the impact of youth involvement in agriculture on household food security among farming households in rural Indonesia. The study employs primary cross-sectional household survey data and applies a two-stage quantitative approach. A Probit regression model is used to identify the socio-economic and structural determinants of youth participation in agriculture, while Propensity Score Matching is applied to estimate the causal impact of youth participation on household food security outcomes, measured using the Food Consumption Score and the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. The results show that youth participation in agriculture is primarily shaped by structural and economic factors rather than basic demographic characteristics. Higher educational attainment significantly reduces the likelihood of youth engagement in agriculture, reflecting higher opportunity costs and alternative employment prospects. In contrast, the availability of youth labor within the household and access to productive assets, particularly land, significantly increase the probability of youth participation, while access to agricultural credit plays a supportive but weaker role. The impact analysis further reveals that households with active youth participation exhibit significantly better food security outcomes, characterized by higher food consumption scores and lower levels of food insecurity compared to comparable households without youth involvement. These findings suggest that youth participation contributes to improved household resilience and food access. The study highlights the importance of addressing structural constraints, such as land access and financial inclusion, to promote sustainable youth engagement in agriculture. Strengthening youth participation is therefore not only essential for farmer regeneration but also for enhancing household food security and long-term rural development. © 2026 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada.
Postgraduate School, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia; Agriculture-Socioeconomics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
