West Lampung optimises coffee potential through 'One Village One CEO' programme

The West Lampung Regency Government in Lampung Province is optimising the management of the coffee sector’s potential from upstream to downstream through a collaboration with IPB University in the One Village One CEO (OVOC) programme, aiming to cultivate superior human resources in rural areas. This commitment was conveyed by West Lampung Regent Parosil Mabsus during an audience with IPB University students participating in the OVOC Programme in Purawiwitan Village, Kebun Tebu District, West Lampung, on Wednesday. The West Lampung Regency Government expressed its appreciation to IPB University for selecting this area as a learning site for developing a coffee-based village business ecosystem. This is a strategic momentum to realise independent and competitive villages, Parosil said. Parosil explained that the OVOC programme is highly relevant for implementation in West Lampung because almost all villages have significant potential in the coffee plantation sector. The programme is designed to shape human resources with leadership and entrepreneurial spirit at the village level. He explained that through the programme, students are equipped with knowledge ranging from good agricultural practices, post-harvest processing, and value-added product development to marketing strategies and the strengthening of farmer institutions and MSMEs. We want every village to have a generation capable of becoming the driving force of the village economy, managing coffee potential professionally, and creating sustainable business opportunities, he stated. Based on data, West Lampung Regency is one of the main centres for robusta coffee production in Indonesia, with a plantation area exceeding 54,000 hectares and an annual production of around 63,000 tonnes. This sector provides a livelihood for more than 36,000 households, or approximately 70 per cent of farming families in the region. West Lampung Robusta coffee is grown at altitudes of 600 to 1,200 metres above sea level with fertile volcanic soil conditions, resulting in a distinctive flavour character that is competitive in both national and international markets.