Bogor Agricultural University signed an MoU with Meranti Regency
The Regent of Meranti Islands, Drs. Irwan, M. Si, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vice Rector for Research and Cooperation of Bogor Agricultural University, Prof. Miftah Anas Fauzi, at the Mawar Room, Baranang Siang Campus, on 27 June 2011. This newly formed Regency decided to approach the University to establish cooperation for the development of education, agriculture and animal husbandry, forestry, and industry and trade.
In the education program, in the near future Meranti Islands needs agricultural extension workers and other agricultural experts. Therefore, according to Drs. Irwan, Meranti Islands will send its best students to pursue their advance studies at the University. The intended level of education are the Diploma (D3) and the Undergradute Programs (S1).
"For FY 2010, we have allocated education funds amounted to Rp. 800.000.000,- (eight hundred million Rupiah) for scholarships of 5-10 students who would be admitted to the state universities. However, the funds had not been absorbed as there were no prospective students who successfully past the admission tests. “Based on the MoU, I expect that Meranti Isalnds will enable to send its best students to both the Diploma or the undergraduate programs of Bogor Agricultural University, "said staff of Bappeda on Education program of of Meranti Islands.
In addition to the educational program, in the visit of the Islands Meranti’ Bappeda team also expressed the natural phenomena they encountered. One of which is the coastal erosion which has already reached 1 km. This is a tremendous threat as if it won’t be well-managed, all the Meranti Islands will disappear soon.
Moreover, in agricultural fields, the Meranti Islands has plenty of local knowledges such as the abundance of fruits, they look attractive but the taste are sour. The team also requested that the University will help farmers in Meranti Islands to intervene and take steps to eradicate the viral disease that infested their chili crop.
In the future, aside of the problems they have expressed above, the team also requested the University to plan the development of the sago plantation, which will release the superior qulity seeds that will become the icon of plantation development in the region.
Following the signing of the MoU, the itinerary of the program was discussion among experts with the visiting team. Vice Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Ir Aris Munandar, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Dr. Fauzi Febriyanto, Deputy Director for Development and Cooperation of Directorate of Diploma Program, and other experts presented in the discussion. (Wied).
