[Unpad.ac.id, 16/12/2012] Indonesian agriculture plays a great role in terms of maintaining the perseverance of the people. All factors, from the top to bottom, therefore, are necessary to be taken into consideration.
“There has to be an excellent perspective on our life mechanism, on the upstream-downstream pattern in our agriculture,” said Ahmad Heryawan, the West Java Governor, when speaking at the gathering “End-year Reflection: Encouraging the Green Province Implementation toward Agribusiness-oriented Province,” organized by the agriculture alumni association (KAFP) Unpad in Grand Hotel Preanger, Sunday (16/12)
West Java has the highest rainfall in Indonesia which accordingly makes the soil the most fertile. Such fertile soil is potential for agriculture development. Not less than 40% of the total population are farmers. The potential has to be backed-up by industries at the downstream that make use of local agricultural products.”The industries, therefore, should be agricultural-based,” he added.
Sadly, most industries prefer imported goods instead of local agricultural products. In addition, farmers tend to ignore proper technologies to cultivate whereas such technologies will definitely increase sufficient agricultural outcomes.
Of course, it is easier said than done for it takes firm ideas and collective commitment to build strong upstream-downstream agricultural mechanism. The government, farmers, and society at large should participate in it. “Strong commitment of all stakeholders to develop West Java has high feasibility.”
On the same occasion, the rector, Prof. Ganjar Kurnia, said that Unpad that produces experts in agriculture should also be committed to take part in the province’s development programs. What’s more, agriculture sector has become more promising from time to time.
