Saein: Alumni of Bogor Agricultural University Must Love Farmers
The man is a from Probolinggo and he was graduated from Bogor Agricultural University on 1995. After had been recruited as scientist at the Sukamandi Research Institute for 2 years and carried out research programs in Pengalengan, South Banten, Saein back to his hometown to serve and assist farmers to increase their dignity there.
Equipped with a bicycle, Saein cultivated 0.8 acres of the farmland owned by his family. When harvest time was almost come, Saein always went directly to his farmland to check the rice.
Saein used his own pocket money to implement the research programs on fertilizer and organic rice suitable for Probolinggo areas. He tried to do the best to improve the welfare of farmers in Probolinggo by practicing environment-friendly agriculture. Currently, there are about 20 hectares of organic rice farms in Probolinggo. Organic farming could save the production costs almost 50%. The knowledge generated by his experiments could be directly absorbed by the farmers because the farmers immediately witnessed the successful experiments. Direct action and direct practice, make people believe.
Not only organic fertilizers and pesticides had been sucessfully produced, the recipient of the Kehati and liputan6 Awards, had also successfully bred a new variety of rice called Padi Mutiara. This variety will help to increase rice yields and improve the sustainability of rice production, it has good grain and large extraction rate (rendemen).
We may proud to say, the knowledge he acquired while he had been studying at Bogor Agricultural University is beneficial to the community by designing independence research for farmers around him. Ongoing investment in rice research, breeding, and extension will help to increase rice yields and improve the sustainability of rice production to help avoid future rice price increases.
Saein’ Love for Farmers
In front of about 600 prospective graduates of Bogor Agricultural University, Saein told them that he loves farmers. Saein applied for admission to Bogor Agricultural University as he had bad experiences when was a child. He was born and grown up in a farmer family who was always fighting for difficulties. In 1970s, there were numerous reports of plant hopper and virus disease outbreaks in Indonesia, including his parents farmlands. Rice production in his areas suffered one of the biggest losses they have ever experienced, and it caused his family run out of rice strocks for the full year.
We only consumed corn and cassava to replace rice. These conditions affected me to choose Plant Pests and Diseases at the University. Probably the said Department is not considered to be the popular Department. Nothing to worry for me, as this was the target of my study. September 1995 I had been graduated with GPA 3.01. Not long after the graduation, I was offered a job as the research assistant at Sukamandi Research Institute for the plant pests group. I felt less comfortable, as the job confined into the laboratory, greenhouse, library, experimental stations, but away from the communties, "he expressed when he was invited as the guest speaker at the briefing pre-graduation in the auditorium of Andi Hakim Nasoetion, on 25 July 2011.
His entire job was implementing research programs on pests and diseases, that no other aspect to be handled. Moreover, the principle hindrance he had, he did not know as when the results of the research would be disseminated to public. This was the reasons why had to rethinking about his career he had accepted.
Plenty of excellence research results were not publized due to the conflicts between the bureaucratic and government policies. Saein finally decided to return to the village because he thinks the village condition is quiter enable him to plan and arrange his farming development program.
I cultivated 0.8 hectares of lowlands and garden owned by my parent’s. I utilized the field as my farmland as well as my experimental garden. I recorded all experiments and informed them to farmers around me. The funding support to implement this research programs is from the money that I got from farming, there is no specific budget for my experiment. Focus of my studies are environmentally friendly agricultural technologies that can be replicated and developed for the community, "he said.
In addition to cultivate the farmland and implimenting research programs, Saein also involved in social activities. Among others, in charge of farmers’ organization, organized monthly discussions on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and sometimes he had been invited for both agricultural activities and scientific discussion, as well as to provide consultation services for agricultural problems for villagers.
On 2007, Saein was recruited to be extension officer under the Probolinggo Extension Service. He accepted this job as he considered that the job descriptions assigned for him was in synergy with his own activities.
On his careers Saein also got unpleasant experienced such as bad expressions of scorn. "Why did you come home, what do you want," It was really unfortunate that you pursued higher degree program at Bogor Agricultural University, but finally you went home to be a farmer, " he said.
For some years Saein’ programs had not been suppoted by the local government. The constraints he encountered did not dampen his intention to help farmers to develop their farming.
With regard to the Award granted for him, Saein has never dreamed to have it, as he had been working these programs to help farmers to fight the adversity. He considered that the Award was blessing in disguise for him to motivate in intensifying the planned programs for farmers and he should always be grateful for God. (Wied).
