Patriot Expedition Team Presents Plan to Develop Leading Commodity Potential in PSEKSU Transmigration Area
After spending a month in the Penjalang Suku Empayang Kikim and Saling Ulu (PSEKSU) Transmigration Area, the IPB University Patriot Expedition Team presented their findings and plans for developing leading commodity potential to local government representatives and transmigration residents.
This was done through a “Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Development of Leading Commodity Potential” held at the Lubuk Atung Village Head’s House, Lahat Regency, South Sumatra.
The FGD was attended by representatives from the Lahat Regency Transmigration Office, Field Agricultural Extension Workers (PPL) from South Kikim Subdistrict, village heads, and representatives of transmigration residents in the PSEKS Transmigration Area (Transmigration Area of Tembeling Jaya Preparatory Village).
Dr Akhmad Arifin Hadi, as the team leader, explained that this activity aimed to explore the potential of leading local commodities and formulate development strategies in a participatory manner with the community.
“We want the results of this FGD to be a forum for validation and confirmation of field findings, so that the commodity development strategy is truly in line with the conditions and needs of the community,” he said.
He added that the results of this discussion would form the basis for developing a plan to develop leading commodities in the PSEKSU Transmigration Area (Trans Tembeling Jaya).
A series of discussion sessions were held, covering the determination of leading commodities, analysis of potential and obstacles, weighting of priorities through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), as well as SWOT and Business Model Canvas (BMC) discussions to formulate the community’s needs.
In the forum, residents agreed on the preliminary identification of leading commodities in the transmigration area, namely coffee, palm oil, and rubber, while also adding various potentials and obstacles they face in the field.
Transmigration community representatives conveyed various problems they face, ranging from damaged road infrastructure, limited access to electricity and water, to a lack of technical assistance in agriculture.
“We hope that attention will be given to road repairs, because difficult access makes it difficult for us to transport our agricultural products,” said Mulyadi, one of the residents. Supratikno echoed this sentiment, highlighting the lack of assistance from extension workers.
“Almost all crops can grow in the transmigration area, but we lack knowledge and rarely receive guidance from extension workers. We hope for guidance so that our agricultural yields can be better,” he said.
Through this activity, the IPB University Patriot Expedition Team hopes to strengthen the synergy between the local government, extension workers, and the community in promoting economic development based on leading potential in the Trans Tembeling Jaya Transmigration Area, Lubuk Atung Village, PSEKSU. (*/Rz) (IAAS/ASY)
