LPPM of IPB Developed the Local Food Potential in Madiun District

Institute for Research and Community Services, Bogor Agricultural University (LPPM-IPB) re-implemented the community empowerment program in Madiun District. LPPM through Agrocreative Field Station Program (SLAK) resumed the program began in 2015.

“SLAK Program is implemented in line with the mission of IPB. One of IPB’s missions is to do the community service which puts forward the innovation of IPTEKS and has the character of the entrepreneurship while maintaining the noble values of the nation and the sustainability of the natural resources. This is also being done in the area of Madiun District, East Java,” said Head of LPPM of IPB, Dr.Ir. Prastowo, when interviewed recently.

SLAK Program was the community empowerment activity to improve the food security through the local resources. The large framework of SLAK activity in Madiun was the local food processing assistance in four sub-districts namely Dolopo Sub-district, Wungu Sub-district, Dagangan Sub-district, and Pilang Kenceng Sub-district.

The facilitators were deployed to four sub-districts to assist the residents. Especially in Dolopo Sub-district, the facilitator was in charge of fixing the institutional of Association of Chocolate Processed Craftsmen of Agropolitan Area (Apokat). While three other villages focused on the food processing. The food commodities processed were in form of the banana kepok, the taro, the gembili, and the other local food.

The facilitators of SLAK assigned in Madiun amounted to six people with various fields respectively. The facilitators’ fields of knowledge were the scholars of the animal husbandry, the veterinary, the agronomy and the horticulture, as well as the communication and the community development.

“Handling the institutional can not be instant it takes time and a massive approach to the community to build the social sensitivity. The good cooperation with the Office of Food Security of Madiun also continues to be done. Currently, we have done the social mapping and the local food processing training,” said Hening, one of the facilitators of SLAK who was assigned in Dolopo Sub-district, Madiun District.

SLAK Program in Madum District this year was different from the previous years. This time SLAK of IPB was in cooperation with the program of IPB Goes to Field (IGTF) and Students of Kuliah Kerja Nyata / Real Work Lecture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (KKN-UMM).

The activities conducted on 10 July to 10 November 2017 were also done in various areas like Bali, Ngawi, Pasuruan, Muara Enim, Bojonegoro, Banyuasin and Simalungun. Before implementing the program, the preliminary survey was conducted to determine the potential of the area and the right program to be implemented.

“Hopefully, this program could be a strategic option to build the agriculture through the diffusion of the innovation of IPB into the local agricultural production centers. Consistently, the program will be expanded to various potential areas in Indonesia. If it can be a national movement, it is not impossible this program to be able to increase the people’s economy significantly,” he said.(NA/Zul)