Putri’s Path: From Rice Fields to Professional Growth in Agriculture

Jiva
3 min readNov 18, 2024

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Putri posing with a thumbs up in front of a banner saying ‘Happy National Farmer’s Day’ from Jiva
Putri on the field during her Jiva SDP training

This blog post series follows our Sr. Content Specialist, Bintang Lestada, as they share their lively talks with inspiring figures on the field. Let’s discover how Jiva empowers young talents like Putri to transform Indonesia’s agriculture through innovative training and on-the-ground experience.

For 23-year-old Putri, life has always revolved around the lush rice fields of Desa Kalikudi. Growing up, she and her mother, along with neighbours, would collect unused harvests using sacks — a practice called *ngaseg* in Javanese, derived from the word “seg,” meaning sack.

Putri once dreamt of pursuing industrial engineering, but life led her down a different path. Her mother, envisioning a stable future for her daughter, encouraged Putri to study agriculture in Purwokerto instead. With her cousin already working in the Department of Agriculture, her mother believed this would secure Putri’s future in the agricultural sector.

With that future set on stone, Putri enrolled in the agribusiness program at Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, seeing it as a blend of science, technology, and management. Upon graduation, she discovered Jiva’s Sales Development Program (SDP) on LinkedIn. The multinational reach and innovation of Jiva attracted her, inspiring her to apply.

Starting at Jiva was a leap of faith for Putri. “What I learned in college was so different from the realities on the ground,” she shared. However, her high school sales experience gave her a foundation to build upon.

I received so much guidance on approaching Toko Tani (retail partners) and making transactions,” Putri said. Jiva’s robust training ecosystem, the Jiva Academy platform, as well as in-person sessions in Semarang, gave her the tools to excel.

From mapping areas to handling customer relations and managing various applications, the SDP training made her job more manageable and rewarding. Despite facing challenges such as interacting with diverse customers, Putri relied on Jiva’s training to remain kind, professional, and solution-oriented.

Working with Jiva reshaped Putri’s view of the agricultural sector. She realized that success requires hands-on engagement — meeting farmers, understanding their needs, and recognizing opportunities. “It’s not just about what you learn in school; you need to be on the ground, meeting actual farmers,” she said.

Putri posing in front of Toko Tani
Putri in front of one of the Toko Tani in Central Java

For Putri, Jiva was more than just a workplace — it was a platform to grow personally and professionally. Driving through villages, chatting with retail partners, and closing sales became fulfilling memories and milestones in her journey.

As of 2023, Jiva has worked with over 4,000 Toko Tani. The owners saw their monthly sales increasing by 73,5% and reported 25% more income compared to before they join Jiva Toko Tani. This is the kind of impact that Jiva strives to achieve for smallholder farmers and their communities.

Putri’s story is a testament to Jiva’s commitment to transforming agriculture in Indonesia. Beyond supporting smallholder farmers, Jiva aims to inspire young people to join the agricultural space. Now working as as a Sales Acquisition Coordinator, Putri’s journey is looking even brighter.

By offering comprehensive training and real-world experiences, Jiva equips individuals like Putri with the skills they need for a brighter future. Together, we cultivate a new generation of professionals ready to drive Indonesia’s agricultural sector forward.

Want to read more stories on how we reshape agriculture and help the rural farming community uplift their livelihoods? Follow us on LinkedIn, Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok. Learn about what we do by visiting our website here.

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Jiva
Jiva

Written by Jiva

Jiva is on a mission to empower millions of farmers across the world with digital solutions built for their specific needs.