IPB Students Persuade Bojonegoro Community to Develop Their Entrepreneurial Spirit through the Cultivation of “Guava Crystal”
Paguyuban Angling Dharma (PAD the Association of Angling Dharma) of students of Bojonegoro, on 24 January 2018 at Wotanngare Village Hall, Kalitidu Subdistrict, Bojonegoro Regency, East Java, implemented Let's Go to Agriculture (LGTAC) 2018 program. This event is an annual event initiated by Paguyuban Angling Dharma, it is Organisasi Mahasiswa Daerah (OMDA Regional Student Organization) of Bojonegoro who study in IPB.
The aim of this special event was the Community Empowerment toward Innovative Village by implementing the cultivation of tropical fruit “Guava" which is innovated by IPB. The OMDA working program is community service, especially education on agriculture in general.
"This special program was attended by local village farmers, village officials, agriculture service officers, the Head of Kalitidu Extensions, IPB Alumni, guava farmers, Babinsa and PAD members. It is expected that the program activities would be beneficial for the community at large, especially in enhancing entrepreneurial spirit and utilizing vacant lands to enhance its ecological and social value, "explained Nur Afika Putri, Secretary of LGTAC Activities.
The first item of the program was talkshow, moderated by Puguh Andhi Setiawan A.Md (Alumni IPB). The talkshow presents: Qomaruddin, SP., and Djoko Pudjowiyono, SP., (Bojonegoro District Agriculture Service Officer), Abdul Masjid (Successful “Guava crystal” Farmers of Padang Village, Trucuk Subdistrict), and Moh . Agus Jamaluddin, SP. (Alumni IPB).
The material presented were about the potential of the development of “Guava crystal” in Bojonegoro, cultivation techniques and the prospect of the of “Guava crystal” cultivation.
In addition to class activities, the farmers were invited to visit the “Guava crystal” lot owned by Mr. Mundir, who also attended this event to practice correct cultivation methods of “Guava crystal” under the direction of the committee and Pak Abdul Masjid.
The termination of the program was the distribution of “Guava crystal” seedlings for all the participants by redeeming the coupon distributed during the registration. "Alhamdulillah Agriculture Service appreciates highly the initiative and creativity of Bojonegoro students in planning and carrying out this community-based agricultural service program, therefore farmers getting interested in cultivating the “Guava crystal”," added Afika.
In addition to farmers, the target of LGTAC program were high school / vocational students / equivalent of Bojonegoro District. PAD invited their participation by implementing poster competition, the theme of the competition was on “Bojonegoro and Future Agriculture”, which took place on 13 December 2017 to 22 January 2018.
"We hope that this activity will increase the entrepreneurial spirit of farmers in cultivating “Guava crystal”. As it can improve the economy of the community and become one way to increase the sense of concern of the young generation to become part of the next farming generation of Bojonegoro. We also express our gratitude to all those who have supported for the implementation of this event Hopefully PAD can inspire all parties and the future can be even better," continued Afika.
Of course for the successful implementation of this program was due to the good cooperation between the village government with the relevant agencies in the development of “Guava crystal”. (Wied)
