On Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at Ulam Sari restaurant, Kudus, a Focus Group Discussion on 5 fields was held with the theme of unity for food sovereignty. The FGD event was attended by the Regent of Kudus, extension workers, breeders, farmers and academics from Diponegoro University. It took place from 9 AM to 12 PM. This event was held by Diponegoro University in hope to advance and improve the competence of the agricultural and animal husbandry sector doers in Kudus Regency.
The event was welcomed enthusiastically by the Head of Agriculture and Food Service of Kudus Regency, Catur Sulistiyanto, S. Sos, M.M. He felt that this event was very beneficial for the development of animal husbandry and agriculture sectors in Kudus. Moreover, FPP Undip has been assisting Kudus Regency’s Agriculture and Food Service in developing turkey cultivation.
Furthermore, this event is part of the series of activities for celebrating the 62nd Anniversary of Diponegoro University. So far, only few universities are found to be celebrating their anniversary by doing community service. This new concept is promoted by Diponegoro University to help extension workers, farmers and breeders in accessing the latest information on developments in the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors.
“We want to change the image of a university to become an ivory tower for the society. By holding this activity, it is hoped that the society, especially breeders and farmers, can obtain information on what has been done by academics so that they can put it on practice. It is high time that universities can collaborate more with the society,” said Dr. Ir. Bambang W.H.E.P, M.S., M.Agr as the Dean of Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture, Diponegoro University.
As one of the activities for celebrating the 62nd Anniversary of Undip, this event presented 5 speakers who are experts in their fields. The guest speaker from the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture of Undip explained the potential of developing local food, the use of agricultural waste as alternative livestock feed, integrated farming systems, aquaculture and post-harvest handling, and increasing the capacity of human resources in Kudus Regency to face the industrial revolution 4.0.
The materials given in this community service were selected from upstream to downstream in hope that both breeders and farmers will have holistic knowledge. The needs of the targets are also considered so that in the future, they can apply the materials given by the community service.
“So far, community service activities have been carried out only by giving materials separately. Therefore, from this community service by Undip Dies, we want to give a comprehensive understanding to the society so that they have a sustainable mindset,” Ir. Bambang Sulistiyanto, M.Agr.sc., Ph.D, as the Head of Committee explained.
Extension workers, breeders, and farmers admitted that this activity is needed. According to them, all this time community services have been giving only one material and there were no follow-ups. However, in this community service activity by Undip Dies, the society and extension workers were included since the beginning of the activity; starting from the identification of problems and needs to determine the materials. The follow-up is to give anyone access to ask questions or access information freely to academics at Undip, and it is not limited on the time the community service activity was held, but they can access them even afterwards.
