Thursday, July 3, 2008
RI Facing Food and Energy Shortages and Environmental Degradation
Source: Antara News

Bogor - Rector of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) Dr Ir Herry Suhardiyanto M.Sc said the Indonesian people are currently facing food scarcity, energy shortage, and environment-related problems, so that cooperation between all elements of the nation is badly needed.

Therefore, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed here between the province of West Java and the IPB in education, training and research of agribusiness and agro industry here on Wednesday was seen as a initial and right step.

"IPB's role in this case is efforts to prepare the right human resources, helping the farmers and business players. West Java province with its fisheries, animal husbandry, horticulture and crops have made a big contribution to the national economy, providing an opportunity to university lecturers and students to improve quality and productivity for creating job opportunities in various agribusiness and agro industry sectors," he said after signing the MoU.

The signing of the MoU was witnessed by West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan and IPB Rector Herry Suhardiyanto, and other relevant authorities.

In addition to the MoU, the technical and operational cooperation was also signed by the head of the fishery office in West Java, Ir H Darsono and Deputy Rector for Research and Cooperation Dr Ir Anas M Fauzi.

According to the IPB rector, in addition to food security, issues on energy, environmental degradation and other problems for which a solution is being sought are unemployment, water supply shortages, and other problems.

"It has posed a serious problem to this nation which is in need of cooperation to overcome the problems," he said.