IPB’s Golden Generation of New Students Would Be Responsible for the Nation’s Food Problems

In a speech of Bung Karno, the First President of RI, delivered that the agricultural issue was the nation’s life and death issues. It was expressed that in the laying of the first stone when constructed of the campus IPB of Baranangsiang. So just how important the food was for the survival of a nation.  Remarked by the Rector of IPB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Herry Suhardiyanto, MSc, in the speech event of the Period of the Campus Introduction for new students of IPB (MPKMB) of Batch 50 in Grha Widya Wisuda, Campus of IPB Darmaga, Bogor.(27/8).

 

Not only Bung Karno which revealed the importance of agriculture. Other major figure was Jawaharal Nehru who also said that “Everything Can Wait But Not Agriculture “.

 

Moreover in his speech for the new students the Rector explained how vast the wealth of nature of Indonesia ranging from marine resources, land, earth and other wealth contained in this beloved Indonesia might not be counted. When viewed geographically, from Sabang to Merauke, stretching thousands of islands.

 

The next question was made by the Rector “Are you sure that there is no hunger in this country? Are you sure that the result of national development has been felt by all people of Indonesia. Are you sure that the people of Indonesia have been freed from the shackles of poverty. Suddenly all new students answer “no”.”

 

Further the Rector conveyed that our country was currenly faced with a major problem in the economic, energy, social cultural and political fields. Moreover the poverty rate was still 11% from the total Indonesian population. We were still importing soybeans of 1.6 millions ton, buckwheat of 5 millions per year, meat of 41% , milk of 197 ton, and corn of 362 ton.

 

“So you should be proud to be students of IPB. You are the answer to these questions. You are the generation that will think of agriculture, maintain flora and fauna, manage our natural resources, and you will design pro-agricultural policies, fight for  the interest of farmers and IPB is the university of Indonesian nation expectation.(dh)