Attended by 62 university representatives from all over Indonesia, Hasanuddin University’s Faculty of Agriculture hosted the National Seminar and Workshop of Indonesian Agricultural Higher Education Communication Forum (FKPTPI). Located at the UNHAS Hotel & Convention Center, the activity took place from 9.00 WITA until finished, Monday (22/10/2022).

With the motto “FKPTPI Supporting Indonesian Food Self-Sufficiency Towards Advanced, Independent and Modern Agriculture in the MBKM Perspective in the Digital Era,” the special purpose of the seminars and workshops is to serve as a communicative forum for each involved higher education institution to exchange information, knowledge and experiences related to efforts in optimizing the progress of Indonesian agriculture with the nuances of modern technology.

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Ir. Salengke, M.Sc expressed his gratitude and welcomed the deans and study program heads from various universities in Indonesia. He revealed that the Faculty of Agriculture had prepared this activity long ago and with many aspects in mind.

“Today we invite the minister to reveal to us what agricultural development policies are like. The goal is that we in higher education can design programs that can synergize with programs launched by the ministry of agriculture,” he said.

Representing the Governor of South Sulawesi, Administrative Assistant for Regional Secretariat, Dr. H. Tautoto Tana Ranggina, M.Si explained the support provided by the South Sulawesi Provincial Government in 2022 for the development of the agricultural sector by building several isolated roads so that the distribution of agricultural products can be smooth. The development of irrigation areas is also carried out to meet the needs for agricultural irrigation and help farmers by distributing free superior seeds through the independent seed program which targets 100,000 hectares of agricultural land in South Sulawesi.

“If the farmer groups feel that there are things that are needed in the context of the development of the agricultural community, the South Sulawesi provincial government is always ready to provide related opinions and we will continue to make efforts so that South Sulawesi can continue to be a buffer for Indonesia’s exports,” said Tautoto.

Chancellor of Hasanuddin University Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, M.Sc, who had the opportunity to open the event, considered that the topics discussed in the seminar were fundamental. For him, agriculture is one of the pillars of the economy, besides that it is also one of the keys to food security. He made an analogy that people may survive without a cell phone or drive a car, but people cannot survive without eating.

“God willing, in the future all of our staff including the faculty of agriculture, heads of departments of all study programs will always be ready to become a national network in developing good ideas, brilliant ideas, innovating to solve agricultural problems that are so complex, challenges that are so tough but also have many opportunities, “he said ending his remarks.  

Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Syahrul Yasin Limpo, SH, MH, M.Si echoed that the strongest and surest way to save the Indonesian nation is the agricultural sector. He explained that when Covid hit, only the agricultural sector continued to increase in exports while other sectors experienced a decline in the January-September 2022 period which increased 7.3% compared to the same period in 2021.

In his speech, the Minister of Agriculture divided the strategy he wanted to carried out starting from increasing production capacity, import substitution, to increasing exports which will be applied to several basic commodities. As a first step, he proposed to each university to utilize their knowledge and student staff to produce marketable agricultural products without excluding the use of technology and creative innovation.

The activities were arranged until the second day which focused on field trips with all participants to introduce natural heritage as well as spoil the eyes by visiting the Leang-Leang Archaeological Park and tourist attractions in the Bantimurung National Park area.