UNS – Alumni Association (IKA) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held other wedangan alumni under the theme of food resilience on Wednesday (22/7/2020). IKA UNS invited 7 speakers from the alumni of Faculty of Agriculture (FP) UNS, Prof. Samanhudi, Ir. Mugiharjo, Ir. Gatut Sumbogodjati, Ir. Sunarti, Ir. Triyana, Ir. Andreas Gunapradangga, and Dr. Joko Sutrisno. The event also attended by the Chief of IKA UNS, Ir. Budi Harto and the Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho who delivered an opening remark.
“Alumni FP UNS not only (work) in the agricultural sector, but also in banking, government, academia, taxation, companies, entrepreneurs, and many other sectors,” Prof. Jamal mentioned in his remark.
Ir. Triyana as the Director of Finance of Bulog (Indonesia Logistics Bureau), conveyed that the global rice prices continue to rise at the rate of 9-17% each year from 2003 and even higher in the last few years because population growth exceeds the production growth. The global rice demand is around 493 tons per year, while the production is around 498 tons, 60% of global community consume rice as their staple food. He also added that Bulog plays a role in stabilizing the price from the upstream to the downstream. At the upstream, stabilization is conducted by absorbing rice from farmers both directly and indirectly based on Inpres No. 5 of 2015 and Permendag No. 24 of 2020. While at the downstream at the consumer level, Perum Bulog implements the Price Stabilization and Availability Program (KPSH) or market operations.
Ir. Sunarti who currently work as The Head of the Central Kalimantan Agriculture Service explained the use of the ex-PLG area in Central Kalimantan. One of which is through the development of food estate regional in the swamp area supported by the development of human resource and farm corporation, capacity upgrade and diversification of products, and management and development of facilities and infrastructure. This explanation is supported by Gatut Sumbogodjati, the Director of Processing and Marketing of Food Crops Ministry of Agriculture by stating that diversification is important to develop local food crops such as cassava, banana, sago, and other food sources.
The next material delivered by Prof. Samanhudi discussed the agricultural strategy in achieving food resilience during the new normal. Prof. Samanhudi stated in achieving national food resilience should start from food resilience at the household level for example, through the utilization of yard in creating a green environment.
Ir. Mugiharjo as the Principal of PT Bumi Perkasa Agrindo shared information on state crop produced by PT Bumi Perkasa Agrindo, such as chilli, bitter melon, gambas monica, cucumber nimas, long beans, beans, and water spinach. Closing the session, Ir. Andreas Gunapradangga as the principal of PT Agrikencana Perkasa discussed the product innovation in his company. Wedangan IKA UNS is expected to encourage community spirit in taking a role to achieve food resilience. With good food resilience, the community do not need to worry about the crisis because it has been anticipated. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti