IPB University’s Animal Husbandry School Reaches the Arfak Mountains and Manokwari, West Papua
The success of IPB University’s People’s Animal Husbandry School (SPR) in Fakfak Regency, which has been operational since 2023, has inspired the Governor of West Papua to develop similar initiatives in other regencies.
Following this, the IPB SPR team conducted a visit to the Arfak Mountains District in West Papua to carry out outreach activities. This initiative was led by the West Papua Provincial Livestock and Animal Health Service (DPKH).
“This activity aims to accelerate food sovereignty in West Papua through the IPB SPR. Currently, there are still three districts where the SPR will be developed. However, in the future, several other districts will also establish the IPB SPR, which has proven successful in various locations across Indonesia,” said drh Hendrikus, Chairman of the DPKH and an alumnus of IPB University.
Prof Muladno, the initiator of SPR IPB, said that Pegunungan Arfak Regency has vast land areas and great natural resource potential. However, the human resources of farmers and ranchers are still minimal.
“Therefore, the use of technology and mechanization in agriculture and livestock farming must be implemented to optimize land management and utilization, thereby achieving high productivity,” he said during a socialization event at Hotel Valdos Manokwari on (7/26).
“SPR IPB is expected to change the mindset of farmers and livestock breeders,” he added optimistically.
On the same occasion, Prof Agik Suprayogi, one of the founders of SPR IPB, said that Arfak Mountains Regency has a cool microclimate of around 18–22°C with fertile soil and abundant water. These conditions are very promising for the development of dairy cattle using the agrosilvopastoral concept.
“Through this activity, IPB University, as a leading university in Indonesia, has demonstrated its consistency in safeguarding food sovereignty,” said Prof Agik, a lecturer at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (SKHB) at IPB University.
SPR, an innovation of IPB University, has been implemented in 29 districts and 18 provinces in Indonesia and will continue to grow progressively across Indonesia. “We hope that SPR IPB will be beneficial for farmers/ranchers in their efforts to achieve food sovereignty in West Papua Province,” he said.
This idea was confirmed by drh Hendrikus. He revealed that during the Dutch colonial era, there were already dairy farms in the area. However, after independence, the farmers there did not continue this practice. “It is right and appropriate for the Arfak Mountains region to be returned to dairy farming through SPR IPB,” said Prof Agik.
During the socialization event, the IPB team provided an understanding of the concept and procedures for establishing SPR to department heads and staff, deans, and staff of the University of Papua (Unipa). Also present were prospective farmers/ranchers from three regencies: Manokwari Regency, South Manokwari Regency, and Arfak Mountains Regency.
The Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science at Unipa, Prof Andoyo Supriyantono, expressed high appreciation for IPB University’s presence in West Papua through the SPR innovation that has spread across Indonesia. “We are also committed to collaborating with IPB to support the West Papua DPKH program,” said Andoyo.
Meanwhile, Arya Wishnuardi, SE, MSi, from the Solidaritas Alumni SPR Indonesia (SASPRI) representative, mentioned that SPR chicken commodities can be developed in Manokwari Regency. Meanwhile, beef cattle commodities are suitable for development in the South Manokwari Regency. This is because both commodities have become the economic mainstay of the local community.
“What is needed now is to train the mindset and open up broader market access,” he added. (asp) (IAAS/EXC)
