MOTIVATION LETTER My name is Adi Nugraha. I graduated from Faculty of Agriculture University of Padjadjaran, majoring in Agricultural Socio-Economics.

Therefore I was granted a Sarjana Pertanian (equal to bachelor of agriculture plus research paper) in 2009. I was introduced to the social-economics sciences in my undergraduate classes. I did several field courses during my classes. I went to rural agricultural areas to interact with the farmers and rural communities. That was the first time I saw the rural agricultural communitys daily life, I was shocked and very sad to see how low their livelihood level was. To know that Indonesia is an agricultural country, yet its agricultural and rural societies are in such poor condition makes me want to do something to improve their condition because only that way then I could at least reduce their burden. So it became one of my dreams, and since that time I always keep learning and paving the road that will lead me to reach my dream. In my fourth year, one of senior lecturer in my department introduced me to Centre for Agrifood Policy and Agribusiness Studies (CAPAS) a research institution under University of Padjadjaran. That time he offered me a job as an enumerator. By seeing Capas motto exploring the wealth of agriculture, prospering the agricultural community I was very excited and interested to take that job and saw that as a first step to interact and work for agricultural and rural development in my country. Since I joined CAPAS I started to get involved with both national and international researches, mainly focusing in social economics sciences as an approach such as rapid rural appraisal, participatory rural appraisal, value chain analysis, and community development. Besides of working for CAPAS, I also worked with another several research institutions such as LIPI (The Indonesian Institute of Sciences), UPI (Indonesian University of Education), and LPPM Unpad (University of Padjadjaran Research Institution) also in rural social economics field. Now I am working as a research assistant in CAPAS and currently involved in a collaborative project between CAPAS and Michigan State University. Those research activities that I have been through in the last 3 years had given me a lot of research experience, and those experiences triggered curiosity inside me which leads to thirst for further knowledge. Thats why Id really like to join the masters program in development and rural innovation because I really need to deepen my understanding on the subject. I have read the description of the program and it is to my excitement that the courses offered in the program are simply the ones that will fulfill my need. The program also offers an outstanding learning environment, equipped with state of the art facilities, and surrounded with top quality lecturers and potential students. Studying in such environment is perfectly suitable for me to explore and improve my potential.

If I were granted the opportunity to join the program, I believe living in Holland offers a great opportunity for both studying and develop networking within the academic profession. I am ready to learn the languages, making friends, sharing our cultures, and all the positive things to adapt. I have a good faith that taking the program will not only improve my knowledge but also will allow me to learn about life in higher degree. If I finish the program someday, Id like to devote myself to my country, by achieving my dream to become a researcher to improve the livelihoods of Indonesian rural and agricultural community through my future researches. Besides being a researcher, I also want to involve myself in the field of education. I am sure that I have the ability to share my knowledge to my future students and further to the people of Indonesia. I really hope that one day I can share my knowledge to as many people as possible and then I will involve them in exploring the wealth of agriculture and prospering agricultural community.

Sincerely, Adi Nugraha