Mataram, University of Mataram – Australia’s research cooperation agency for agriculture, the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), has strengthened cooperation with research institutions in Indonesia. One of the latest collaborations is through the Agriculture for Tourism (Ag4T) program focused on NTB, Bali, and North Sulawesi.

In this program ACIAR collaborates with the University of Mataram (Unram), Udayana University (Unud), University of Sam Ratulangi (Unsrat), and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The MoU between ACIAR and Unram was signed on 13 June 2023 by the Rector of Unram, Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D. and the CEO of ACIAR, Prof. Colin Andrew Campbell, marking the commitment to run this program.

On 22 April 2024, the ACIAR team from Unram, led by Prof. Sri Widyastuti, conducted a socialization visit to the NTB Provincial Bappeda office. The visit was welcomed by the Head of the NTB Provincial Bappeda, Dr. Ir. Iswandi, MM. and three of his heads of departments, who expressed their full support for the project.

“No doubt we will support by synergizing this activity with the activities of related NTB Province OPD (Regional Apparatus Organization), such as the Agriculture Office, Tourism Office, and BRIDA NTB. And it is hoped that this program can boost NTB’s status from low to high income province,” he said.

Then, on April 23, 2024 the ACIAR Unram team continued the socialization to the Central Lombok Regent’s Office. This meeting was attended by the Secretary of Central Lombok Regency (Loteng), Lalu Firman Wijaya, S.T., M.T., along with the Head of Tourism, representatives from the Agriculture Office and Bappeda.

“Central Lombok needs this program and we are ready to provide full support for this program both in the form of synergy of activities, facilitation of meetings and issuance of policies if needed,” said the Secretary of Loteng Regency.

During the socialization visit, Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr. as a member of the Unram ACIAR research team as well as the Head of the Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) Unram explained the background and main objectives of this ACIAR activity which is planned to continue for five years. It was followed by the presentation of the activity plan by Prof. Sri Widyastuti and Dr. Nurul Hilmiyati from BRIN.

“The output of this research is also expected to create connectivity with an equitable value-based atmosphere among tourism practitioners, local governments, entrepreneurs and smallholder communities,” added Prof. Sukartono.

The Unram Ag4T team consists of Prof. Sri Widyastuti (Faculty of Food Technology and Agroindustry); Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr. (Faculty of Agriculture); Prof. Dahlanuddin (Faculty of Animal Science); Dr. IGL Parta Tanaya (Faculty of Agriculture); Dr. Tanda Panjaitan (BRIN); Dr. Nurul Hilmiati (BRIN) with Project Officer Bryan Stevy, MBA; and Mariatul Quro, SP. as admin.

With a team consisting of various disciplines, the Unram Ag4T team will be responsible for the implementation of this program. They will work together with various relevant parties to achieve the program’s big goals over the next five years, from 2023 to 2028.

It is hoped that this collaboration will have a significant impact on the development of the agricultural and tourism sectors in NTB, as well as improving the welfare of the local community.