IPB to develop agroforestry

BOGOR: The Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) is planning to develop agroforestry as a new scientific discipline, despite the government's lack of support.

IPB rector Aman Wirakartakusuma said after attending the Southeast Asian Network for Agroforestry Education (SEANAFE) here on Tuesday that the institute would initiate the new study next year in compliance with the government's program to promote autonomy for universities.

"Agroforestry is only a few years old, but it has developed so rapidly. We are able to focus more on this new study, thanks to major achievements in schools of agriculture and forestry," Aman said.

He added that five other state universities -- Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, Lambung Mangkurat in Banjarmasin, Brawijaya in Malang, Mulawarman in Samarinda and the University of Lampung -- had shown a strong commitment to establishing agroforestry as a new discipline.

Representatives of the five universities were among 33 participants of the SEANAFE meeting, the second of its kind, hosted by IPB. Scholars from Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines and Swedish ambassador to Indonesia Harald Sandberg were among the participants.

Aman said IPB would cooperate with SEANAFE in drafting the curriculum for agroforestry study.

Since its inception in 1999, SEANAFE has received financial aid from the Swedish government. The regional institution is affiliated to the Center for International Agroforestry Research. (21)