IPTP IPB Faculty Members Collaborate with the Sigi Regency Government on Institutional Innovations for SPR and SASPRI

A team of faculty members from the Department of Animal Production and Technology (IPTP), Faculty of Animal Science (Fapet), IPB University held a meeting with the Sigi Regency Government to discuss strengthening smallholder enterprises through the Community-Based Animal Husbandry School (SPR) approach and the Indonesian SPR Alumni Solidarity Network (SASPRI).

The meeting took place at the Sigi Regent’s Office and was attended by the Vice Regent of Sigi, Dr Samuel Yansen Pongi, Prof Muladno, the founder of SPR, a team of faculty members and doctoral students from the IPTP program, and representatives from SASPRI-National. Also present were the Regent’s Expert Staff for Government, Community Affairs, and Human Resources, who also serves as the Acting Chief (Plt) of the Livestock and Animal Health Service, Rahmad Iqbal Nurkhalish, and representatives from the Sigi Regency Government.

This event aimed to strengthen the synergy between universities, local governments, and the community in developing small-scale businesses through sustainable institutional innovation.

SPR is one of the institutional innovations developed by IPB University to drive the transformation of smalls cale businesses through participatory learning, which focuses on changing mindsets, fostering collective entrepreneurship, and strengthening science and technology.

Prof Muladno stated that the SPR process does not end once participants complete the program. The sustainability of this process is reinforced through SASPRI, which serves as a national alumni network for SPR participants.

“The sustainability of SPR is demonstrated by maintaining connections through SASPRI to strengthen institutional capacity, build collective enterprises, and facilitate mutual learning across regions,” said the Professor at the Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University.

According to him, Sigi Regency possesses strong institutional capital with the formation of five SASPRI-Kawasan (subdistrict level SASPRI chapters). The existence of these chapters is further strengthened through the “Bupati SASPRI” concept, a spirit and mechanism for inter-regional coordination at the regency level to collectively advance local community enterprises.

This coordination enables each region not only to exchange experiences but also to strengthen collective enterprises and develop regional potential in a more targeted manner.

“The hope is that SASPRI will become part of the regional development chain while also serving as a link between business actors at the regional level and broader networks,” he added.

The meeting also discussed opportunities for applying the SPR approach to the swiftlet nest (SBW) commodity. The issue of the still-fragmented swiftlet industry can be addressed through the consolidation of swiftlet house owners, the strengthening of producer cooperatives, production standardization, and connectivity with offtakers. This model is expected to strengthen the bargaining position and competitiveness of business actors.

The Sigi Regency Government serves as a policy-maker and development facilitator, while SASPRI supports capacity building and institutional strengthening within the community. This synergy demonstrates that innovations developed by universities can continue to be implemented and expanded through community networks with the support of local government.

Through this collaboration, the development of SPR and SASPRI in Sigi Regency is expected to strengthen local businesses, making them more independent, collective, and sustainable, while also opening opportunities for the development of regional economic potential based on knowledge and innovation. (*/Rz) (IAAS/WSG)