IPB Students Are Implementing Knowledge from Class to the Local Community
It is quite an achievement when a student can implement knowledge from the lecture class directly to the field. This has been done by 23 students of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) who were initiated from the Division of Community Development of a Student Organization for Students with Interests Towards Communication Sciences and Community Development of the Faculty of Human Ecology (FEMA). This field implementation of knowledges aqcuired from lectures was implemented in one of the assisted villages of PT Pertamina Gas Westren Java Area Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which is the Village of Tegalsari Cimalaya Wetan District, Karawang, West Java.
The purpose of the visit which was held on the 10th of May 2018 was to understand how much potential, problems, and solutions could be given to the people of the assisted village of PT. Pertamina Gas Westren Java Area. The discussion activity was held at Darrusalam Islamic Boarding School as the center of assistance from CSR PT. Pertamina which applied Integrated Farming System.
“The first step to understanding further detail of Tegalsari Village is to begin a discussion with the stakeholders of that particular issue for example the religious figures (kyai), the boarding students, Farming Youth (Pemuda Bertani), The Indonesian Islamic Farmers Group (Kelompok Petani Islam Indonesia), The Movement of Indonesian Islamic Youths Group ( Kelompok Gerakan Pemuda Islam Indonesia), and PT. Pertamina Gas Westren Java Area,” as explained by Distra Asniar, the Director of the Community Development Division.
The discussion was held to gain information of the current problem on the topic of the current management of Darussalam Islamic Boarding School. From this problem, Distra and the team were able to create a solution that may be implemented by the people of Tegalsari Village which is by having a local guide, training from CSR Pertamina, and division of labor in the Integrated Farming System management of Darussalam Islamic Boarding School.
“Through this discussion, we were able to understand the work system of a CSR and became more aware towards the importance of the position of farmers in the agricultural world, especially for the development of the people of Indonesia,” added Distra.
During their visit, Distra and her team also learned about the process of the Integrated Farming System of Darrusalam Islamic Boarding School, from the process of making organic fertilizer from goat manure, to the benefits of organic fertilizer for organic rice paddies. “We also tried the rice made from organic rice paddies which was made there. Rice from organic rice paddy plants are far more healthier and have better quality than regular rice,” said Distra.
Through this fieldtrip, Distra and the other IPB Students learned many new things, especially in the agricultural field and management of a village which is assisted by a CSR. “Directly going to the community will open our eyes into seeing that learning does not necessarily only happen in a classroom, but can also be done through direct interactions with the people of the village,” Distra said as a closing statement. (Avr)
