Innovation Real-Thematic Work Students Collaborate with Agribusiness Technology Park IPB University to Design Sweet Potato Center Village
Students of Innovation Real-Thematic Work (KKNT Inovasi) in collaboration with Agribusiness Technology Park (ATP) IPB University organized AgriWork: Workshop on Sweet Potato Cultivation and Marketing Techniques. This workshop was held in Sukajadi Village, Tamansari District, Bogor Regency, West Java.
This activity was attended by three target farmer groups, namely Harapan Maju 1, Tani Mukti, and Bakti Mandiri Sukajadi. The activity included a presentation on sweet potato cultivation techniques and marketing. This education is to strengthen the confidence of the community, especially farmers, with the presentation of the cooperation and partnership system delivered by Yudi Nurjamil as Chairman of Agribusiness Technology Park (ATP) IPB University Partner Farmer Production.
Ilham Tyas, a representative of KKNT Innovation students as well as the person in charge of the program said, this activity was initiated because of the large agricultural potential in Sukajadi Village that has not been optimized. In fact, almost 60 percent of the village land is agricultural area.
This was corroborated by the statement of the Chairman of Gapoktan Saluyu, Altayani. “Farmers here pay less attention to the technical aspects of cultivation. Most of them follow the current crops, which in the end are not optimal. In addition, farmers are very dependent on middlemen in selling their products. Especially when prices drop, farmers lose money. As a result, many people here are less prosperous,” he said.
These problems and potentials, said Ilham, became the main reason for KKNT Innovation students to design AgriWork activities by collaborating with ATP IPB University.
“ATP IPB University, which is engaged in business and service, is pleased to be able to work with students in solving agricultural problems in the village by improving welfare and understanding related to agriculture,” said Yudi.
He elaborated, ATP IPB University acts as a company that assists farmers from upstream to downstream, from seeds/seedlings to marketing. Yudi also explained, “The demand for sweet potatoes in the ATP market is very high and has not been fulfilled. The demand for purple and cilembu sweet potatoes reaches 1-2 tons per week, while orange sweet potatoes are 10 tons per day.
With market certainty, Yudi explained, it can guarantee that farmers’ produce will be sold at a flat price of 4,000-6,000 rupiah per kilo. The system used is also weigh-pay, meaning that after weighing it is paid immediately, there is no grading as long as it is not lanas (damaged). This has attracted farmers because of price certainty and a stable market.
“The results of this meeting will be the basic design in achieving Sukajadi Village as a Sweet Potato Center Village. The next activity is land survey and planting preparation by farmers who are accompanied by ATP IPB University and KKNT Innovation students,” said Ilham.
Ilham said, “It is hoped that our presence here will help solve problems, especially agriculture because the main livelihood in Sukajadi Village is around 70.8 percent as farmers. Thus, it can increase linear agricultural production and increase the welfare of the people of Sukajadi Village.” (*/Rz) (IAAS/HLF).
