Signing MoU, IPB University Continues Partnership with Tegal Regency Government
IPB University agreed to continue the partnership with the Tegal Regency Government. The collaboration was stated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed directly by the Rector of IPB University, Dr. Arif Satria and the Regent of Tegal, Dra Hj. Umi Azizah on Dramaga Campus, Thursday (9/24).
The scope of the partnership focused on education, research, and community service. It encompassed thematic real-work lecture, plant clinic, aquaculture, Animal Husbandry School or Sekolah Peternakan Rakyat (SPR), and student mobilization in IPB Goes to Field.
On the occasion, Dr. Arif Satria said, IPB University was currently one of the world's top 100 universities in agriculture and ranked 12th in Asia. While at the national level, according to the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti) ranking in 2019, IPB University was the third best campus in Indonesia.
“The Animal Husbandry School (SPR) is one of IPB’s efforts to transform the society to have better competitiveness,” explained Dr. Arif.
He added that the SPR that was currently developed had accommodated new technologies, so it did not only manage the animal farming but also prepared the water supply whose all process used technology 4.0 like satellite and sensor.
"IPB University has also developed a pattern of feeding automatically using smartphones for inland fisheries. At the moment the research is still being refined so that all people use smartphones, not only feed but in the future, they can control the water quality and so on," said Dr. Arif.
For Dr. Arif, accelerating the process of transformation of agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry towards 4.0 cannot be done without collaboration from the regions. So that this collaboration is expected to encourage agricultural progress in Tegal Regency.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Tegal revealed that it was her first visit to IPB University campus. According to her, IPB University had continued to skyrocket since it was first established. The signing of this MoU was nothing but aimed at reaffirming the existing partnership that had been well-maintained for 15 years.
"I and everyone as well as representing farmers and the people of Tegal expressed our gratitude to IPB for trusting Tegal Regency as an assisted area and partner to build in collaborating to create progress, the novelty of the industrial world and agricultural cultivation" said the Regent of Tegal.
The impact of agricultural assistance by IPB University was also conveyed by Umi Azizah. IPB assistance through the local garlic nursery benefitted the farmers directly.
Garlic production in Tegal Regency, especially in Bojong Sub-District, experienced a golden period in the 80-90s. However, from 1991 to 2015, there were no more farmers who wanted to grow garlic. They almost gave up hope, because of the small yields, the price was low and did not even sell because they were less competitive with imported garlic.
"The collaboration of Bank Indonesia (BI) with IPB University at that time, through research conducted by Prof. Sobir, Alhamdulillah the results were very good. When the initial demonstration plot was only 3000 square meters, in 2019 it increased sharply to 478 hectares. Even today many young farmers are enthusiastic about growing garlic," said Umi Azizah.
Both parties, both IPB University and the Tegal Regency government welcomed this partnership. With the hope that the synchronization process and the synergy of agricultural development policy in Tegal Regency can run faster with the support of programs and activities from IPB University which are adaptive and responsive in responding to the agricultural challenges they face
