IPB University Patriot Expedition Team Ready to Develop Leading Commodities in the Kikim Transmigration Area, Lahat
The IPB University Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) is preparing to develop leading commodities in the Kikim transmigration area, Lahat Regency, South Sumatra. The team will be assigned to the South Kikim area and Penjalang Suku Empayang Kikim and Saling Ulu (PSEKSU).
Dr Akhmad Arifin Hadi, the team leader, explained that TEP IPB University will design a strategy for developing leading commodities based on local potential, covering the entire process from upstream to downstream in the Kikim transmigration area.
“This strategy will serve as the foundation for the downstreaming process and the next stage of the investment roadmap in the Kikim transmigration area in an integrated and sustainable manner,” he explained during a meeting with the Transmigration and Manpower Office (Distransnaker) and the Regional Organizing Agency (OPD) of Lahat Regency.
Dr Akhmad, who is also the Chairman of the Department of Landscape Architecture at IPB University, also conveyed the need for data related to mapping the potential of the area in spatial, textual, and tabular forms.
Distransnaker and OPD welcomed the three expedition teams. “We, the people of Lahat Regency, welcome the aims and objectives of the Patriot Expedition. Hopefully, what will be done later will be beneficial for the progress of Lahat Regency,” said a representative of the OPD.
The first visit was made to the Integrated Independent City (KTM) located in Keban Agung Village, South Kikim District. KTM is a transmigration area equipped with road access infrastructure, residential houses, electricity, and yard space.
“The main potential here is oil palm plantations. In addition, there are durian, coffee, and rubber, but even though rubber is promising, it requires regular maintenance,” said one of the transmigrants during an interview.
However, there is a problem in KTM, namely the decline in the number of families living in the KTM area. At the time of writing, there were only 9 households remaining out of the original 100.
“This certainly needs to be addressed by the government, in this case the Ministry of Transmigration, so that the transmigration program in KTM Kikim Selatan can be sustainable,” said Qibtiyatul Masruroh, the field coordinator.
In the future, she and her team (A Nur Fajar Oktaviani, Dzakiy Ihsan Refwan, and Rayzar Raffa Mulyana) will conduct a survey to collect primary data on respondent characteristics, farming profiles, income levels, commodity market chains, and leading commodity indicators based on the economy and market prospects.
In order to visualize the potential of the region in a more integrated manner, the survey data will be supplemented with spatial data processing. The team will also conduct an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to determine the priorities for developing leading commodities objectively.
“This process will then be reinforced with focus group discussions (FGDs) with stakeholders to explore collective perspectives and formulate inclusive strategic recommendations,” explained Qibti.
The results of this series of activities, he continued, will form the basis for the preparation of a measurable and sustainable development design for leading commodities in the Kikim transmigration area, equipped with a monitoring and evaluation system to ensure successful implementation in the next stage. (*/Rz) ((IAAS/LAN)
