Minister of Villages Yandri Susanto Invites IPB University to Create Farmer CEOs in 75 Thousand Villages
The Minister of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT) of RI, Yandri Susanto, SP, MSi, invited IPB University to create farmer CEOs in 75 thousand villages throughout Indonesia.
This invitation was conveyed when he became the keynote speaker at the 50th Anniversary of the Graduate School of IPB University held at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Economics and Management, IPB Dramaga Campus, Monday (4/29).
In his speech, Minister Yandri emphasized the important role of villages in national development. “There will be no agriculture without villages. Many big problems arise in villages, not in cities. So villages must be prioritized,” he said.
He explained that there are currently around 75.000 villages in Indonesia, categorized as independent, developed, developing, underdeveloped, and very underdeveloped. Of these, around 10.000 villages are still classified as very underdeveloped, 3.000 villages do not have access to electricity, and 20.000 villages are not connected to the internet.
For this reason, the Kemendes PDT has initiated the “Build Villages, Build Indonesia-Frontier Villages for Indonesia” movement, and hopes for collaboration with IPB University in realizing village-based development.
Yandri also highlighted the phenomenon of over urbanization that occurs in developed countries such as Japan and South Korea as an important lesson. He said, “As many as 93 percent of Japanese citizens leave the village.”
“Now they have a food crisis, minus economic growth, and a decreasing population. Houses in the villages have even dropped dramatically in value. South Korea experienced the same thing, with 83 percent of its citizens moving to the city,” he explained.
He said that if Indonesia does not immediately strengthen village development, a similar situation could occur. Therefore, one of the Ministry’s strategies is to change the perception of farmers. “Farmers who used to be underestimated, now must be able to become CEOs in the village,” said Yandri.
The Mendes question is very relevant to IPB University’s service program. Until 2025, IPB University through various community service programs has touched 6.675 villages in Indonesia. One of the most impactful community service programs is OVOC.
OVOC or One Village One CEO is a program designed to facilitate students or new graduates of IPB University who intend to become social entrepreneurs in agriculture. Most recently, this program successfully delivered 36 tons of areca nut worth $76,320 or 1,3 billion to be exported to Bangladesh (4/24).
Meanwhile, Dean of the Graduate School of IPB University, Prof Dodik Ridho Nurrochmat, said that IPB University is a pioneer of postgraduate education in Indonesia.
IPB University Graduate School was established on November 30, 1974 with only 40 students at the beginning. Now the number of active students reaches more than 8.000 people from various regions and countries.
The 50th Anniversary event was officially opened by the Vice Rector for Global Connectivity, Cooperation, and Alumni of IPB University, Prof Iskandar Z Siregar. (IAAS/ASY)
