Harvest Festival of Sweet Potatoes in Purwasari Village: A Testament to IPB University’s Commitment to Small Farmers
Purwasari Village, located in Dramaga Subdistrict, Bogor Regency, witnessed a lively harvest festival of sweet potatoes, directly supported by the Directorate of Agromaritime Community Development (DPMA) of IPB University.
This event marked the culmination of the Information Base for Research and Community Service (BIMA) program, a flagship initiative designed to improve farmers’ welfare and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
The harvest festival was attended by Bahroin Idris Tampubolon, SE, MSi, a representative of the BIMA program. In his remarks, the IPB University lecturer from the Department of Resource and Environmental Economics highlighted the importance of the BIMA program’s sustainability for small farmers.
“This program is more than just assistance. We aim to ensure that farmers in Purwasari Village have market certainty for key commodities like sweet potatoes. This way, their hard work can truly impact their livelihoods,” he explained.
Funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, the program has a broad scope. In addition to supporting food crop sectors like sweet potatoes, it also focuses on livestock farming.
One of the innovations introduced is the use of livestock waste as organic fertilizer, aimed at supporting environmentally friendly and sustainable farming systems.
As a tangible form of support, farmers in Purwasari Village also received modern agricultural equipment. This assistance is expected to increase work efficiency and improve harvest quality.
Darto, a local farmer, expressed his gratitude:
“We are very thankful for the attention and assistance from IPB University. With these tools, we can work faster, and our harvests have improved. We hope programs like this will continue in the future,” said Darto with hope.
This initiative demonstrated the synergy between technological innovation and the needs of rural communities. As part of the empowerment effort, the program supports farmers in tackling modern agribusiness challenges, including market access and the adoption of eco-friendly technologies.
According to Bahroin, IPB University, through the BIMA program, is not only focused on short-term results but is also committed to building a strong foundation for the economic sustainability of villages.
“Sustainable agriculture is not just about harvest yields but also about creating an ecosystem that supports farmers’ livelihoods in the long term,” added Bahroin.
With this harvest festival, Purwasari Village has demonstrated great potential as a successful example of a community service program implementation. The presence of DPMA IPB University serves as a driving force for real change for small farmers in the region.
The harvest festival also serves as a reminder that the success of the agricultural sector requires support from various parties, including the government, academics, and society. Through synergistic collaboration, Indonesia’s agricultural sector has significant potential to advance and develop further. (IAAS/RUM)
