Rector of Bogor Agricultural University: Agricultural Field Need More Attention
Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) Bogor Agricultural University in cooperation with the Indonesian Embassy in Rome, Italy, held an international seminar on agricultural development in Indonesia, especially with regard to food security. The seminar was held in the Auditorium Toyib Hadiwijaya, Darmaga Campus, on 6 December 2012.
The Dean of FEM, Dr. Ir Yusman Syaukat, MEc explained that such activity was participated by various agencies that relate to world food problems, such as the World Food Programme (WFP), FAO, IFAD the UN Agency which specialized on providing funding support for the agricultural development. According to him, the involvement of FEM in agricultural issues is really significant as the development of the agricultural sector is not just on the technology transfer, but also relate to socio-economic aspects.
In the international seminar on "Optimizing Rome-Based Agencies UN program by Strengthening the Role of Universities in Agricultural Development in Indonesia" a number of resource person were invited. Among other was representative of FAO, Dr. Mustafa Imir, the Indonesian Representative for IFAD, Ms. Mariam Rihanna, Indonesia Country Director of World Food Programme (WFP), Coco Ushiyama, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Indonesian Embassy in Rome, and the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Bogor Agricultural University.
In his remarks, in the opening the seminar, Rector of Bogor Agriculture University), Prof. Dr. Ir. Herry Suhardiyanto, M. Sc, expressed that many households in Indonesia are unable to access nutritious foods such as meat and eggs. Even if you use the recommendations from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the nutritional adequacy of Indonesia is still low when compared with other states.
"A significant portion of rice as the staple food for most Indonesian has great effect. In the era of the 1950s, the composition of food demands were 53.6% rice, cassava and maize for 22.3% of 18.9%, respectively. Most Indonesian people think that their status are prestigious if they eat rice, especially for those who have been urbanized. In 2005, the staple food composition changed into 87.8%, 8.8% and 3.1%. How to make self supporting rice to meet the rice demands for Indonesia is really a challenge, and is really rather difficult task to implement, "he stated in the seminar.
Rector added that the growth of the agricultural sector has become the critical point for poverty alleviation, food security and renewable energy. The total growth of the agricultural productivity as a whole fell from 2.5% (1968-1992) to 0.1% (1993-2000). Therefore, more attention should be paid by the government for the development of the agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hamim as Agriculture Attache at Brussels and the conceptor of the event stated that the institutions or agencies should hands in hands together in supporting the food resilience issues. "All levels in government bodies to the farmers should cooperate each other. Third, the international institutions presented at the event have long established cooperation with Indonesia and would like to share experience in dealing with the issue of food security in Indonesia, "said the expert who is also a faculty member of Bogor Agricultural University. (Wied).
