Friday Tour: Petir Village Bogor Agricultural University Has Added lt Village Campus Circle 17
Friday Tour: Petir Village
Bogor Agricultural University Has Added lt Village Campus Circle 17
The Head of Petir Village, Mr. Engkos Kosasih, stated that his village is the widest compare to other villages in the Darmaga district. "It covers an area of about 400 acres and more than 60 (sixty) percent of its populations are farmers. However, compare to the previous years, this number is decreased as previously its farmers population was about 80 percent. Currently, most people changed their jobs to be employees in the industrial or private companies for better life, "said Mr. Engkos in the Friday Tour (Jumling), on 13 May 2011.
Mr. Engkos expected that the University will assist the needs of the village community to develop and provide the agricultural extension such as the the best methods for plant cultivation, production, post-harvest processing and marketing. "More specifically to provide information how to get funding supports or capital for them," added Mr. Engkos. Although not all orphans are supported by the University for their costs of living, Mr. Engkos appreciated the funding support the University provided, as well as the donation of goats, chicken, fish seeds, training course on integrated pest control and environmental hygiene programs that was organized for the community.
Similar to Mr. Engkos’ explaination the Darmaga district’ Head, Mr. Arom Rusmandar, also had similar expectation. With the existance of Jumling activities, the communities around the campus really happy, especially the contribution of the University to the villages around IPB campus. Thanks to the community development designed by the University, last year the Cikarawang Village, Darmaga districts was selected to be granted an an award by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia (Kementerian Hukum dan HAM Republik Indonesia) under the categories of environmentally consciousness.
To solve the problem of farmers’ capital, the Bank BTN is ready to provide capital assistance for farmers in the Petir village. The Branch manager of BTN Bogor, Mr. Victor Simbolon, explained that BTN bank is ready to provide agricultural credit. "We participate Jumling activities in order to know the pattern of financing agricultural program by the community, so as to reduce capital problem they encountered," he said.
Rector of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Prof. Dr. Ir. Herry Suhardiyanto, M.Sc. stated that the University planned to disign the community development progroms for 3 (three) other villages. "Thus, the total number of villages around the campus that join the University’ community development programs is 17 (seventeen), previously it was 14 (fourteen) villages. These 3 (three) newly joined villages are Purwasari, Sukadamai and Sukawening villages" said Rector. In respond to the limited amount of compensation aid for orphans, Rector requested the villagers to encourage the orphans to study hard and to pursue to their higher levels of education. On that occasion, Rector signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bogor Agricultural University, farmers of around the campus, and the BTN Bank. (Wied)
