(from left) President Director of Petrokimia Gresik Dwi Sariyo Annurogo, Founder and Chairman of MarkPlus Inc Dr (HC) Hermawan Kartajaya, East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak, and ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng during the souvenir handover

ITS Campus, ITS News – As an agricultural country, Indonesia has good soil fertility. However, this beneficial potential has not been able to raise the welfare of its people. In the Studium Generale titled The Past, Present, and Future of Agriculture Business which was held in the Auditorium of the ITS Research Center Building Thursday (14/7), the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) together with MarkPlus Inc and Petrokimia Gresik viewed that technological development in the agricultural sector This is an effective solution.

The atmosphere of the studium generale attended by several universities in East Java took place in the Auditorium of the ITS Research Center Building

According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in 2020, as many as 46.3 percent of households classified as poor come from families whose income mainly comes from the agricultural sector. In his opening speech, the Deputy Governor of East Java, Emil Elestianto Dardak, who was also present, said that even though he is the smallest contributor to unemployment in Indonesia, poverty accumulates in the agricultural sector. “This means that the base solution to poverty alleviation is not always on the job opening,” he said.

Emil continued, that the primary cause of the problems in the agriculture sector is the lack of innovation that utilizes technology to increase productivity more efficiently. “The contribution of young people who are technologically literate is needed to innovate advanced tools to support agriculture,” said Emil at the end of his speech in a public lecture attended by hundreds of students from several universities, including ITS.

East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak gave his opening remarks at the ITS studium generale with MarkPlus Inc and Petrokimia Gresik

On the same occasion, MarkPlus Inc Founder and Chairman Dr (HC) Hermawan Kartajaya continued, that current technology was created for humanitarian purposes. Hermawan argues that the technology developed for agriculture is also part of improving humanity. “What’s the point of developing technology if it doesn’t benefit the public at large,” said the man who is often called by the initials HK.

Founder and Chairman of MarkPlus Inc Dr (HC) Hermawan Kartajaya gave material related to technology development for humanity

Continued Dwi Sariyo Annurogo, President Director of Petrokimia Gresik who is also an alumnus of ITS Chemical Engineering, said that agriculture is a sector that can maintain economic stability in Indonesia, especially during the pandemic. If agriculture is further developed, it has very positive prospects in the future. “Developing innovation in agriculture is not instant and does take time because the cultural field is also a consideration,” he said.

President Director of Petrokimia Gresik Dwi Sariyo Annurogo who was present to bring material in the field of agriculture

Changes in the industry, especially in the agricultural sector, which is currently heading towards digitalization, seem to have received special attention, especially from universities in Indonesia. On the same occasion, ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng reminded us that universities must now be ready to face this. “ITS has changed the learning system according to industry needs and expanded student competition,” he said. (ITS PR)

ITS Chancellor Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng when delivering his speech at the Auditorium of the ITS Research Center Building

Reporter: Frecia Elrivia Mardianto