IPB University Patriot Expedition Team Arrives in Mesuji Regency, Designs Strategy for Leading Commodities
The Mesuji Transmigration Patriot Expedition Team is currently conducting a research program and designing specific leading commodities for the Mesuji Integrated Independent Area (KTM) in Lampung Province.
Over the past two weeks, the team has coordinated across sectors, conducted interviews with various stakeholders, and visited four villages to map the potential, problems, and opportunities for strengthening economic institutions.
This program aims to identify specific leading commodities, analyze supply chains and market potential, which will then form the basis for formulating commodity development strategies based on regional characteristics. The plan is to expand the activities to all 35 villages in the Mesuji KTM in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the region’s conditions.
“So far, we have identified the main commodities as rice, palm oil, and rubber. This is supported by the existence of a seed center, KTM Monday Market, rice milling plant (RMP), business center, and IPPOG (Granular Organic Fertilizer Processing Industry), which need to be optimized,” said Dr Supriyanto, chief of the expedition team.
“In addition, there is potential for capture fisheries and processed fisheries such as patin and gabus, which are beginning to be developed in KTM Mesuji,” he added.
As part of the series of activities, the team also attended the Cross-Sector Coordination Meeting on Program Identification and Economic Institution Potential organized by the Directorate of Economic Institution Development for Transmigration Areas, Ministry of Transmigration.
This forum brought together the Mesuji Regency Government, ten economic institutions from Development Area Unit (SKP) C, and other stakeholders.
“We are here to listen and gain a deeper understanding of the conditions on the ground so that the results of this research can truly address the needs of the community,” said Dr Supriyanto.
Assistant III for General Administration of the Mesuji Regency Secretariat, Najmul Fikri, SIP, MIP, emphasized that development can be sustainable if the institutions have a “spirit”.
The Chief of the Tebing Karya Mandiri Village Farmers Group (Gapoktan), Ahmad Nasuha, hopes that his institution will continue to be guided so that it can support the national food barn. Meanwhile, Food Brigade Manager Rudi Wijaya said, “Farmers here are starting to rise because better market access and better flood management are making farmers more enthusiastic.”
Senior Policy Analyst at the Directorate of Economic Institutional Development for Transmigration Areas, Wahyudi ST, MM, added that the results of the mapping and forum would be used as input for the design of future economic institutional programs. “I hope that KTM Mesuji can continue to grow, farmers’ welfare can improve, and existing institutions will not stop here,” he said.
Through a series of research, mapping of leading commodities, and active participation in this cross-sector forum, the development of KTM Mesuji is more focused and makes a real contribution to the welfare of the community. The team is chaired by Dr Supriyanto, with members Inti Putri M, Nur Dini Ya’ti, Fajar Ilham P, and Muhammad Najril F. (*/Rz) (IAAS/HRD)
