Provincial Government of Bangka Belitung Signed MoU with IPB to Restore the Glory of Pepper

The Rector of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Dr.Arif Satria, and the Governor of Bangka Belitung Islands, Dr. H. Erzaldi Rosman, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), on IPB campus, Dramaga, Bogor, on 15 February 2018.  The Rector explained that the cooperation with the Regional Government (Pemda) of Bangka Belitung to implement the research programs is not a new program. Partially, IPB has been working together with Pemda Bangka Belitung to carry out post-mining reclamation of the islands, and as the location of the IPB’ students field work programs (KKN) in 2011, in East Belitung.

"The newly signed of MoU between the Rector and the Governor, will enable more  student of IPB to do their KKN Program in Bangka Belitung. Students will recognize the potentialities of the region, as well as to develop the main agricultural products of Bangka Belitung province, pepper. As we know, Bangka Belitung is the province famous for its pepper. With the collaboration, we will develop the pepper plants in an integrated way from upstream to downstream, "said Rector.

Furthermore, the Rector said, in education, we know the Beasiswa Utusan Daerah (BUD  – the Scholarship for Regional Representatives). The scholarship program is to provide  opportunity for the local students to pursue their higher degree program at IPB under the sponsorships of the Provincial Government. It is important to be initiated to distribute development. "We encourage the local students to learn in IPB and return to his home-province   after graduation," said the Rector.

The Rector added that such cooperation is also part of efforts of IPB to develop concrete innovation, people's economy and national industry. IPB is interested in doing some cooperation with provincial government in Indonesia, as the cooperation will enable IPB to develop knowledge for its curriculum development of IPB.

The Governor of Bangka Belitung Islands, said that the Provincial Government will immediately formulate a strategic plan as follow-up actions. With regard to the  development of pepper commodity, in addition to cooperate IPB, the Provincial Government of Bangka Belitung has also signed the MoU with University of Bangka Belitung (UBB) and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).

He said the decline in the pepper production of Bangka Belitung encouraged the government of Bangka Belitung seriously to guard and coaching the farmers. "In 2004/2005, pepper production reached 30 thousand tons per year. However last year due to mismanagement, approximately 7 thousand tons were produced, it was so incredible. To restore the glory of pepper, we need cooperation to manage such commodity,”  he said.

On this occasion, the Governor requested IPB to send more students. "I want around 500 IPB students to join UBB and UGM students to succeed the glory of pepper. Students on agriculture, livestock, fishery of IPB, please come to Bangka Belitung," the governor invited them.

After the signing of the MoU, the Governor was scheduled to give a public lecture on "Strategi Peningkatan Daya Saing Lada Provinsi Kepulauan Bangka Belitung dengan Pendekatan Integratif Hulu-Hilir (Strategy for Increasing Competitiveness of Pepper of Bangka Belitung Islands with an Upward-Downward Integrative Approach)". The public lecture was carried out at Andi Hakim Nasoetion Auditorium, IPB Campus, Dramaga, Bogor,  was attended by more than  300 students and IPB academic community as well as some representatives from the general public.

Later in the same day, the Governor and his team visited IPB Science and Techno Park (STP) and Serambi Botani. The visit to IPB STP is in line with the plans of the Provincial Government of Bangka Belitung Islands for added value of its products, to improve the marketability of an existing product by reducing production costs or improving quality. Currently IPB STP will be developed into National Science Techno Park for commodity-based of IPB Excellence products. The STP development is to utilize the concrete innovation products of IPB that can drive the national economy. The Provincial Government of Bangka Belitung Islands hopes to absorb the existing innovations and work together to improve the processing industry in particular.

The visit to the Serambi Botani, was expected to provide an overview of the importance of synergy between research aspects of product development and marketing. Serambi Botani becomes a pioneer outlet to providing the highest quality, fresh and natural food, health and wellness products,  based on research and development consistently. (Wied)