IPB calls on alumni to help farmers

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)