IPB calls on alumni to help farmers

BOGOR (JP): Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) has offered all of its graduates the chance to participate in a two year scheme which they said could help country farmers to increase the yield and quality of their crops.

In a speech read out after a graduation ceremony on Saturday, rector Soleh Solahuddin said the time was ripe for IPB alumni to demonstrate their agricultural acumen and help the country through the economic crisis.

"The agricultural sector has thrived while the country's economic development proceeded, but now we must pull together and give something back," Soleh said in the speech which was read out by one of his subordinates, Aman Wirakartakusumah.

The scheme is a joint initiative between the institute, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises, he said.

Soleh did not disclose when the scheme would start or where participants would be deployed. (24/bsr)