(22/8/2025) Cities promise endless opportunities, careers, social mobility, and a faster track to success. For many young people, the allure of urban life is irresistible. But for Hamzah, 29, the hustle and bustle of Makassar and Morowali in South Sulawesi eventually lost their shine. While his peers chased the dream of making it big in the city, Hamzah chose the opposite path: he returned to his village with two goals in mind, reviving his family’s coffee farm and being closer to his aging parents.

A forestry graduate, Hamzah spent more than a decade navigating city life. He studied at a university in Makassar, juggling his classes with part-time work as an embroidery operator and designer. Later, he moved to Morowali for another job. Yet, after 12 long years away from his hometown, his biggest decision wasn’t about climbing the corporate ladder, it was about going home to Kahayya village in Bulukumba, to start over as a coffee farmer.

“I wanted to be closer to my family, especially since my parents are getting older. Besides, coffee farming provides enough to meet daily needs,” Hamzah explained.

Planting Coffee, Preserving Heritage

Hamzah’s choice was not a nostalgic retreat but a conscious decision to protect his family’s legacy and build a sustainable future. His parents passed down three hectares of farmland, divided among him and his six siblings. Their only wish: that the land should not be left idle, but cultivated. Hamzah has already fulfilled that wish, planting coffee across one hectare of the land.

Coffee farming, in fact, runs deep in his bloodline. For generations, the people of Kahayya—including Hamzah’s ancestors—have lived from coffee. “Almost everyone here is a coffee farmer. Since childhood, even when we went to school in the morning, we’d spend the rest of the day helping in the fields,” Hamzah recalled.

From planting seedlings to harvesting ripe cherries, known as petik merah, the technique of picking only fully ripened beans, Hamzah learned everything from his parents. He didn’t make this journey alone, either. With support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) Indonesia, Hamzah received training in sustainable farming and coffee processing. The results speak for themselves: in just two years, his farm has yielded up to one ton of Arabica coffee.

A Simpler, Fuller Life

The first months back home felt unfamiliar after years in the city. But soon, the tranquility of village life replaced his unease. “It felt strange at first. But now it’s better, life is calmer and more comfortable here,” Hamzah shared.

Coffee farming has given him something city jobs could not: freedom. In Kahayya, he enjoys autonomy over his time and embraces a slow living lifestyle, finding meaning in every step of the farming process. “Farming is liberating. There’s no boss pressuring you every day. You just need discipline. Whether I start in the morning or afternoon, it’s up to me,” he said with a smile.

Now, Hamzah is dreaming bigger. Together with his family, he is transforming their coffee plantation into an eco-tourism destination. Plans are underway to welcome visitors for coffee-picking activities and educational tours. “We want to make it more than just camping, we want people to learn about coffee, too,” he explained.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Farmers

Despite the promise of coffee farming, Hamzah notices how few young people in his village are following the same path. Agriculture is often seen as an undesirable career compared to city jobs. Hamzah hopes his story can inspire others to change that mindset.

“Not many young people here want to become coffee farmers. Most still dream of working in the city. My message is: don’t feel ashamed of being a farmer, especially a coffee farmer. Coffee has great potential, and it can really provide for us,” Hamzah emphasized.

With his academic background in forestry, his passion for his homeland, and his determination to nurture both his family’s legacy and the environment, Hamzah shows that farming is not a step backward. It’s a way forward, toward economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and a life rooted in meaning.

Every coffee bean Hamzah plants carries a message: going back to the village is not a retreat, but a leap toward a more grounded and sustainable future.

Sumber: https://www.undp.org/indonesia/stories/brewing-hope-young-farmers-journey-home