East Timor President Visits IPB to See A Modern Model of Agriculture
The President of East Timor, Fransico Guterres Lu-Olo and the First Lady, Cidalia Mozinho Lu-Olo visited Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) on Thursday (28/6). The group was greeted by the on-duty personnel of IPB Rectorate, which is also the vice rector for education and student affairs, Dr. Drajat Martianto and the IPB's Board of Executives in IPB Dramaga campus. Several students from East Timor were also present to greet their president.
About the visit, Dr. Drajat Martianto said that IPB was proud and honored to be visited by the President of East Timor as one of the agenda in his first international visit during this period. IPB is ready to cooperate with East Timor government in various sectors, especially in agriculture education, research and development in agricultural technology, specifically in food crop cultivation, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry, marine, forestry, food and nutrition security, agrbusinesses, community empowerment and other sectors. Those sectors are the specialties of various faculties and schools and research centers under the Institute of Research and Community Empowerment (LPPM) IPB. In education sector, IPB is ready to enroll students from East Timor in its diploma, bachelor, and master degrees. Dr. Drajat said, "IPB will even provide full scholarship (tuition exemption) for five students from East Timor, alongside the scholarship opportunities provided by the East Timor government or other scholarships (SEARCA, etc)."
The President and First Lady of East Timor visited Indonesia at June 27th until 29th 2018. After the bilateral meeting between Timor Leste President and Indonesia President, Joko Widodo, in Bogor Palace at 28th June 2018, President Lu-Olo had a chance to visit LPPM IPB to see modern agriculture model in Agribusiness Development Station (ADS) IPB. President Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo wanted to see the modern farming activity that is being done by IPB.
President Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo was very interested in development of animal husbandry. In East Timor, there are many savanna or grazing area that are not well taken care of. IPB has an advanced feed technology, and the President was concerned with animal products processing. As a follow-up, The Head of Industries of East Timor will visit IPB shortly to engage the cooperation.
In agriculture sector, President Lu-Olo was interested with various seeds that are produced by IPB researchers, some of which were kalina papaya, pineapple, and banana. IPB will also initiate cooperation in that sector. Not only that, President Lu-Olo was also interested to develop sorghum, so the cooperation is expected answer those interests.
The group visited mini expo, such as IPB's superior innovations from Faculty of Fisheries as well as Faculty of Agriculture, vegetable products, and 'crystal' guava by ADS and partners.
They also observed the green house and hydroponic plantings, and activities in packing house. The ADS activities include:
1. Analysis of demand and planning of production, analyzing market demand and formulating production strategy.
2. Seed provision; providing quality seeds for partner farmers.
3. Pilot; preparing the experimental lawn as an education medium for partner farmers.
4. Assistance; conducting routine observation to production activities.
5. Packaging; sorting, packaging, and labelling of products in packaging house
6. Marketing; delivering products to partner markets according to the demand
7. Payment; payment of products after reduced due to cover the production cost to the farmers.
8. Reporting; data documentation to continuing evaluation
Besides those, there is also an integrated agribusiness development and marketing in one activity package through assistance and empowerment of farmers community. ADS IPB facilities were built in a lane as wide as 6 hectares which belongs to IPB. The facility includes seeding area, vegetable and fruit production lane, packing house, landscape, meeting room, and office. (Ard)
