IPB University Cultivates Young Agripreneurs Through Its Flagship Avocado School Program
IPB University, through its Directorate of Agromaritime Community Development (DPMA), has officially launched the Avocado School, an innovative program aimed at cultivating a new generation of young agripreneurs focused on the avocado commodity. This program is part of the Young Agripreneur Camp (YAC) series, which has been held since 2019.
The Avocado School offers an integrated learning approach that combines theory, field practice, and entrepreneurship. 40 participants, including active students, alumni, and members of IPB University’s supported villages, will undergo intensive training facilitated by faculty members and expert practitioners.
“The primary objective of the Avocado School is to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of avocado cultivation, pest and disease control, plant propagation techniques, as well as avocado management and marketing in modern markets,” said Dian Rahma, the program coordinator, in response to a written interview with IPB Today.
Additionally, Dian mentioned that the DPMA is developing an agroforestry program spanning approximately 2.000 hectares across several locations, focusing on avocados, durians, and coffee.
“The nearest harvest among these three commodities is the avocado harvest. Therefore, the hope is that there will be opportunities for it to be managed by the future CEOs from the Avocado School,” she added.
The program syllabus includes various important sessions, including basic agronomy by Prof Slamet Susanto, seedling techniques and top working by Sigit as a practitioner, and an introduction to local cultivars by tropical fruit expert Dr Reza Tirtawinata. The avocado marketing strategy session will be led by Deni Sukmana, an IPB University alumnus and founder of PT Perkebunan Buah Subang (Superavo), who will also present material on fruit nutrition and quality. As a finale, participants will learn about the success story of Miki Avocado directly from its owner, Eflain Sirait, in Cibinong.
The program runs from July to September 2025. All activities emphasize experiential learning methods that integrate hands-on practice with academic and business reinforcement.
“Through the Avocado School, IPB University aims to cultivate innovative and highly competitive young agripreneurs. Avocado was chosen as a symbol of the new spirit in transforming agriculture into a field of opportunity, not just a tradition,” concluded Dian. (IAAS/STD)
