Thanks to Purple Chili Peppers, This Person Became IPB University’s Top Graduate
Inspiration sometimes comes from unexpected places. Who would have thought that the purple ornamental chili pepper created by an IPB University innovator would pave the way for Shafiq Nayottama Ramadhan’s academic journey, leading him to be named one of the top graduates with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3,90.
Shafiq is an alumnus of the Agronomy and Horticulture Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University. He graduated on December 10, 2025, at Graha Widya Wisuda, IPB Dramaga Campus, Bogor.
“I never imagined that the small purple color on the presentation screen during the IPB Goes to School event back then would determine the course of my life, pushing me to seek knowledge and make a big decision by choosing the Agronomy and Horticulture Program at IPB University as my place of learning,” he shared.
The small purple chili peppers created by IPB University researcher Prof Syukur sparked his curiosity about plant breeding and the stories behind the creation of new varieties. At that time, he was still in his senior year at Semarang 2 Public High School.
“I am grateful that I was accepted through the SNMPTN (now known as the National Selection Based on Achievement/SNBP) program. That gratitude multiplied when I actually became a student under Prof Syukur, a figure whose work had caught my attention when I was in high school,” he said.
During college, Shafiq pursued research on the evaluation of the appearance and yield of hybrid and non hybrid curly chili peppers. The research process, which took him almost a year, was the most memorable experience.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the entire process, from crossbreeding the parent plants, sorting the seeds, sowing, transplanting, maintaining, to harvesting repeatedly,” he said.
Despite being demanding and exhausting, these activities brought him a unique sense of joy. “Seeing plants grow from one’s own hands is something irreplaceable,” he added.
In addition to academics, Shafiq also enriched his experience through a student exchange program in Bengkulu and the Merdeka Internship program at Edufarmers International. Through this internship, he gained hands on experience working alongside farmers and observed the challenges of cultivation from a field perspective.
“Meeting farmers, discussing with them, and seeing the real changes from the assistance provided made me even more confident in my choice of field,” he recalled.
Various experiences during his studies shaped Shafiq’s perspective on agriculture. For him, agriculture is not just about production, but also about human quality, ecosystem sustainability, and meaningful changes that grow gradually. (IAAS/AVM)
