Makassar – The Makassar City Fisheries and Agriculture Service in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University held an “Organic Agriculture Training” to provide education and training in developing the capacity of Human Resources (HR). The Faculty of Agriculture has a role as a facilitator in providing knowledge related to organic agriculture to the staff of the Makassar City Agriculture Office as well as to representatives of all sub-districts in Makassar City, Friday-Saturday (12-13/8/2022).

The Organic Agriculture Training, which is being attended directly by Evy Aprialti, SE., MM, Head of Makassar City Fisheries and Agriculture Service (DP2), is anticipated to be able to actualize a number of projects that the city government wishes to undertake. Evy believes that Makassar City’s alleys have the potential to become into tourist attractions.

Dr. Muhammad Fuad Anshori, who on that occasion also delivered material related to organic planting materials, viewed that this training was a form of Unhas’ dedication to the people of Makassar City in optimizing community welfare in the concept of tourist alleys induced by the Makassar City Government.

“This activity is a collaboration with the Makassar City Government through the Department of Fisheries and Agriculture in optimizing the potential of alleyways through organic farming-based urban farming,” he continued.

The participation of the Faculty of Agriculture in the certification of organic farming competencies that was conducted by the Organic Certification Institute in Jakarta and Bogor the previous year, according to Dr. Ir. Abd. Haris Bahrun, M.Si, is the implementation of the Faculty of Agriculture’s contribution as a facilitator. The result of the two parties cooperating in its implementation is a tourist area based on organic agriculture.

Dr. Abd Haris further stated that the goal of the organic farming program was to establish horticultural agriculture using a hydroponic system in the alleys of Makassar City.

Utilization of organic farming is considered important for Dr. Abd Haris especially when looking at it from a long-term perspective: “This is quite important because in the future, the national and international markets will demand agriculture that is free of pesticides, free of insecticides, and free of excessive fertilization. So really the risk is less and the chemical is reduced. Additionally, it covers the implementation of CSA (Climate Smart Agriculture) or environmentally sound agriculture,” he continued.