FBBN Expected to Be an Annual Agenda Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Suswono officially opened the National Festival of Flowers and Fruit (FBBN) 2014, Friday (10/10) in IPB campus of Baranangsiang, Bogor. Attending the Opening were Deputy Coordinator of Food and Biological Resources, Ministry for Economic Affairs, Dr. Diah Maulida, Rector of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Prof. Dr. Ir. Herry Suhardiyanto, M.Sc, Bogor Mayor Ir. Usmar Hariman, MM., and Director of PTPN VIII Ir. Dadi Sunardi.

The event, held for the second time, was an idea of IPB, which then receives the full support of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Trade, and the Municipality Government of Bogor. The Minister of Agriculture in his speech expected FBBN to be an annual event held in the town of Bogor. According to him, Bogor City deserves to become an icon of agricultural products. Moreover, most agricultural R & D centers are located in the town of Bogor.
 
Further, the Minister of Agriculture said, this FBBN is a form of the community love for the local fruits. The respect for local fruit to be the major fruit consumed in their own country would boost the morale of the farmers to grow local fruit varieties that are now penetrating the international market, such as mangoes, snake fruit, passion fruit, watermelon, and banana. It is also the case with the variety of vegetables and ornamental flowers. On this occasion, he assured the businessmen that investing in local fruit is very promising. Earlier, IPB Rector asserted that FBBN has great mission – to promote the advantages of local fruits so that the public would love more.

The series of activities FBBN involves Indonesia Horticulture Investment and Business Forum (IHIBF) inviting resource persons from various sectors of the government, the national fruit producers, retailers and private parties engaged in the fruit business of the archipelago.
The event was continued with a carnival and pledge "Loving the Archipelago (National) Flowers and Fruit". (Mtd)