IPB University Sends Facilitators to Develop Urban Farming in Cimahi City
The Team of the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) IPB University led by the Head of the Community Service Program, Dr. Prayoga Suryadharma and the Head of Administration, Astridina, SE, MM took the facilitators of the Creative Agro Field Station (SLAK) to Cimahi City. The placement of SLAK facilitators in Cimahi City is a form of collaborative effort between LPPM IPB University and the local government of Cimahi City in the development of urban farming. The team was received at the Cimahi City Bappeda Office in West Java, Tuesday (12/11) by the Head of Bappeda Cimahi City, Huzein Rachmadi, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Agriculture Service, Mita Mustikasari, S.Pt, MM, Head of Agriculture Section, Tentri and Head of Economic Planning, Juper.
On that occasion, Huzein Rachmadi said that new innovations for the development of food security and agriculture in Cimahi City need to be pursued with limited land conditions. According to him, there have been several efforts that have been developed by the local government of Cimahi City. Among them is developing a gardening school consisting of 3 elementary schools and 3 junior high schools, developing durian Kawarung which originally only had one tree, now has 1,650, developing Reundeu leaves into tea.
“The future plan is to develop one village one product. Namely developing bees, ginger and the formation of Farmers Women’s Groups (KWT), amounting to 15 KWT in 15 Districts. The hope is that agricultural development can be carried out in a helix manner between the government, universities, communities, farmer women’s groups, mass media and entrepreneurs, “he said.
Meanwhile, Mita Mustikasari added that the problems faced in Cimahi City were land use change, low agricultural income, low technology transfer, human resources (HR), mostly older generation.
“How to create a mindset for millennial generation that urban agriculture does not have to be dirty, it does not have to embrace but that farming activities are clean, have a tie and produce a lot of economy. The concept going forward is how to integrate livestock and fisheries farming activities in one land, “he said.
Responding to this matter, Dr. Prayoga hopes that the existence of the SLAK LPPM IPB University facilitator can help the Cimahi City government to develop urban farming activities that are not only related to agriculture, but in terms of urban agriculture business (from upstream, seed development, planting, planting, to derivative product formulations).
“The facilitator will be placed for two weeks to identify the existing problems. Then lecturers who have expertise in urban agriculture, namely Dr Dewi Sukma from the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, will be brought to Cimahi to help solve existing problems. Activities that have the potential to be developed by KWT are urban farming activities related to the development of ornamental plants and ginger,” said Dr. Decent. (NR)
Keyword: SLAK, LPPM IPB University, Cimahi City
