Dr Didik Suhardi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Culture (MoEC) of Indonesia, made a half-day visit to SEAMEO BIOTROP on 5 September 2017.
The visit was part of his familiarization duty to get to know better the programs and activities of SEAMEO Centres in Indonesia as well as to promote closer collaboration with the MoEC in implementing the 3-year program of the Education and Culture Minister of Indonesia, Prof Dr Muhadjir Effendy, M.A.P., as the current SEAMEO Council President.

During the briefing session, Dr Suhardi commended BIOTROP for its programs and activities especially in accommodating school visits and student internships as well as training school teachers on various agri-based technologies. He encouraged the Centre to develop more technologies that would improve agricultural productivity in Indonesia and eventually increase the living conditions of farmers and communities in line with the government’s economic development plan. Toward this end, he offered to provide scholarships to qualified BIOTROP research staff to pursue graduate education to enhance their knowledge and capabilities.

SEAMEO BIOTROP Director Dr Irdika Mansur and Deputy Director for Program Dr Jess Fernandez toured the Secretary General to the Centre’s Community Learning Park facilities such as the Value Adding Laboratory with special focus on essential oil production, organic waste management facilities, hydroponic greenhouse, mushroom production facilities, and tissue culture laboratory. After the tour, the Secretary General requested the Centre to provide training to MoEC staff on proper waste management and production activities for those who will be retiring soon.

The Secretary General was accompanied by Dr. Sutanto, S.H., M.A., MoEC’s Public Bureau Head and two other staff.