4th DL Umali Award Lecture - Dare to Turn Around for Agricultural Success: Farmers as Key Change Agents

Dr. Sjarifudin's professional career and influence in agricultural development policy making and program implementation span the whole range of the ''conceptual value chain, " from theories and ideas, to testing and validating them and on policy formulation and execution.

Dr. Sjarifudin is also a consistent advocate of environmentally sustainbale agriculture. He banned 19 commercial pesticides and pushed for biological control in controlling pests and diseases of plants.

The author also enlightens his readers on the Blue Economy model, a potentially useful approach to achieve broad-based and inclusive growth. This innovative model could contribute to resolving a contemporary paradox in many developing countries: persistent unemployment and poverty in the rural areas despite high aggregate economic growth.