Mataram, University of Mataram – The Rector of Mataram University (Unram) received the arrival of the Regent of Sumbawa in the context of a visit and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday (26/7) in the Rectorate Meeting Room, Second Floor of the Unram Rectorate Building.

On this occasion, Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D., conveyed several opportunities for cooperation that can be done by Unram with the Sumbawa Regency Government.

“First, the cooperation opportunities that we can do may be like the cooperation model with the Central Lombok district government, namely the Rector and Regent making an MoU, one of which is to send 5 prospective medical students who will be financed with the set of educational funds they have,” he said.

Students who have completed their studies will return to their respective regions, so that, the shortage of doctors in the regions can be solved by the scheme.

“Second, we will make a deep well water pump whose electricity source is solar. If the technology is proven, we will develop Sumbawa,” he continued.

The Professor of the Faculty of Agriculture also explained the idea that Unram had done in producing Vaname Shrimp using tarpaulin ponds.

“There is also Lamtoro Beef. We have Lamtoro trees with a protein content of 25% and can be used for animal feed,” he explained.

He further suggested that the bare hills in Sumbawa could be used as land to plant Lamtoro. So that, Sumbawa can become a premium meat supplier.

“It’s never too late if we have a program. The important thing is implementation,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Sumbawa Regent Drs.   H. Mahmud Abdullah expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the acceptance of Unram Rector and his staff.

The Regent of Sumbawa hopes that the cooperation with Unram will make the Sumbawa region more productive.

“The Sumbawa area is very large, almost 3/4 of NTB’s area but the population is small, the land is large but lacks groundwater. So, we hope a lot for this cooperation,” he said.

Furthermore, the Regent of Sumbawa said that whatever program is carried out will be based on surveys, so that, it will have a big impact on the community.