BEM KM IPB University Invites Students to Intercrop Calina Papaya and Sweet Corn

The Student Executive Board of the Student Family (BEM KM) of IPB University made agricultural activities with students across departments to provide knowledge and direct practice on intercropping papaya and sweet corn as a hedge crop.

This activity is a series of Thematic Service Student agenda and collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Social Society of BEM KM IPB University with the Directorate of Agromaritime Community Development (DPMA) IPB University. The activity was held at the Agribusiness and Technology Park IPB University on Saturday, 2/12.

Director of PMA IPB University, Dr Handian Purwawangsa said that agricultural students should understand agriculture from upstream with the concept of modernization and take advantage of innovation opportunities.

“One of the innovation opportunities is Calina papaya and sweet corn. By providing agricultural knowledge in field practice, it will open up student creativity in developing agriculture to its agribusiness,” said Dr Handian.

Dr Koswara, one of the DPMA staff also gave a briefing so that students understand and can apply their knowledge in social life.

“In this process, it is hoped that students can understand the characteristics of plants that are productive and have the potential for agricultural businesses,” he said.

One of the students of the Faculty of Fisheries of IPB University said, “This is my first time planting papaya and corn, of course it is a new thing and I am very happy to take part in this activity besides being exciting this is also useful for me and colleagues who are new to agriculture,” said Salsa.

“This Thematic Student Service activity is one of the efforts so that students know their knowledge and can be applied into an agribusiness plan or practiced during the Real Work Lecture,” said Latif Hidayatul Ikhsan as the Coordinating Minister for Community Service of BEM KM IPB University.

He continued, IPB University students as the vanguard of Indonesian agriculture should not be ignorant of the latest agriculture, must be adaptive and innovative in developing agriculture in the future.

“IPB Rector Arif Satria is also very supportive of this Thematic Service Student activity as a place of learning and welcoming entrepreneurs in agriculture in the future,” said Latif. (*/Lp) (IAAS/SHY)