Students of School of the Graduate Studies Had Cross Country Program and Planting of 1000 Trees

Students of School of the  Graduate Studies Forum of  Bogor Agricultural University (Forum Wacana IPB) held Cross Country and Planting of 1000 Tree Program on Saturday , 10 December 2011, in Cihideung Ilir, one of the villages around the  Darmaga campus. Chairman of Forum Wacana IPB, Mohammed Yusuf, said that Cross Country and planting 1,000 trees Program was the concern and the dedication to graduate students on the community surrounding the campus. "We hope this activity will be benefitial  and will improve the welfare of the community surrounding the campus. For information,  jati  bongsor (Jabon) which is 5 (five) years old is ready to be harvested, and it costs Rp. 400.000,- (four thousand Rupiah), "said Mohammed Yusuf

On that occasion, as many as 600 seedlings of jati bongsor (Jabon) and 400 seedlings of sengon were planted on community gardens.  According to Yusuf, for the first year jabon will require special care. Jabon tree requires a lot of water and soil nutrients, therefore, it is recommended that such seedlings will be planted on the rice fields. "The fast growing species is the advantages for jabon trees. As a result today we can see a lot of rice fields have been converted from rice plants into Jabon, "explains Yusuf. Yusuf explained that the Forum still have a thousand seedlings stocks ready for planting. The plan, similar activities will be held at the other village around the campus. "We hope such event will planned routinely. Not just the planting, but monitoring for its growth up to the harvesting, "said one student of the Doctoral Degree Program on Natural Resources and Environment (PS-PSL) of the Univeersity.
 
Cihideung Ilir village chief, District Ciampea, Mr. Atang Suryadimulya, was happy to welcome  the tree planting activities. "Thanks to planting tree program carried out by the University  academic society, as the program enable us, the community of Cihideung Ilir village, to enjoy the greenery and and cooler situation as compared to other Villages around Darmaga in the dry season," said Atang. He expected that the University will share the innovations the University invented, especially on  agriculture,  to improve the welfare of villagers  around the campus. This event was also attended by representatives of Camat Ciampea, and the Secretary of the Masteral Degree Program of the School of the  Graduate Studies of  Bogor Agricultural University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Nahrowi. (Wied).