[Unpad.ac.id, 19/04/2016] Universitas Padjadjaran is in cooperation with a number of areas as part of efforts to support government programs to improve wetland area in Indonesia. Related to that, Tuesday (4/19) at Executive Lounge Unpad, Jalan Dipati Ukur No. 35 Bandung were held signing of Manuscripts Cooperation Agreement between Faculty of Agricultural Industrial Technology (FTIP) Unpad and Maluku Provincial Agriculture Office and Department of Agriculture and Horticulture in Lampung.
The memorandum was signed by Dean of FTIP Unpad, Dr. Ir. Edy Suryadi, MT, with Planning Staff Department of Agriculture Maluku Province, Motahar Litioly, S.Pt, and Head of Agriculture Infrastructure, Department Agriculture and Holticulture of Lampung of Province, Ir. Indriatmoko Dhianto
In this cooperation, Unpad will hold investigative visits to empty areas in several appointed area to perform feasibility check for rice field area. In Maluku province, an investigation will be conducted on 15,000 hectares land area, targeting at least 5,000 hectares of land ready to be planted and processed by farmers. As for Lampung Province, the land to be surveyed is 25,000 hectares, with a target plant-ready land is 20,000 hectares.
“To check whether the land is suitable or not for more rice fields, seen from the aspect of water availability, land suitability, level of pH, after being checked. Also on checking on farmers readiness for planting or processing paddy rice field,” said Dr. Edy at the event.
In addition to the investigation, Maluku province would arrange design of paddy fields. “How the design, how much soil volume to be cut, how much land should be stockpiled in order to make it proper as rice fields, “he added.
In addition to team of experts from FTIP Unpad, this activity would also involve experts from Faculty of Agriculture of soil science, social, economic, and agricultural production, Faculty of Engineering Geology for identification of water resources, as well as from Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in relation with vegetation analysis.
The survey itself would be conducted in duration of three months, from April 2016 and to be continued with mapping design. By December 2016, farmers are expected to have started planting.
In addition, in relation with rice field expansion, cooperation was also carried by North Maluku Province at the beginning of April 2016. In North Maluku, land to be surveyed is 10,000 hectares with planting target of 3,000 hectares.
“It is expected that Unpad that is now State University of Legal Entities can contribute to improvement of production for rice, to improving welfare of society, and most importantly apply academic skills or its human capital to contribute to society,” hopes Dr. Edy. *
Reported by Artanti Hendriyana / eh
