Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (Antaranews Kalsel) - Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) mobilized 5,000 students to plant rice seeds simultaneously on agricultural land in Jejangkit Muara Village, Barito Kuala District, Tuesday (10/16).
"We fully support South Kalimantan which hosts the World Food Day (HPS) and the deployment of students and lecturers as a concrete manifestation of the totality of the ULM's support," Chancellor of ULM Prof. Dr. H Sutarto Hadi stated.
According to Sutarto, the appointment of the Jejangkit Muara Village which has swamps land to be used as land processing for a pilot integrated farming is the ULM momentum to participate in the development of agricultural technology.
"Of course academics help in research, such as finding superior seeds for swampy land. The Faculty of Agriculture is ready to support it," said Sutarto.
Moreover, the opening of new land for agriculture, he added, is a very strategic effort for South Kalimantan and Indonesia in general to eliminate hunger on the archipelago.
Sutarto also appreciated the spirit of South Kalimantan Governor H Sahbirin Noor, whose totality in the effort to open 4,000 hectares of land in the Jejangkit Muara Village according to the request of the Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman.
"This momentum is very important and historic because the governor went down directly to the rice fields. He really appreciates farmers who work every day to produce food for us to eat. Let's support the success of the peak of the 38th World Food Day which will be attended by the president," Sutarto said.
Meanwhile Governor H Sahbirin Noor praised the ULM Chancellor's initiative that could move thousands of students to go down to the fields to plant.
"ULM and other universities in South Kalimantan I hope to be able to produce more experts in agriculture to guide our farmers in the fields to be more advanced and be able to apply agricultural technology so that the results are also more optimal," said the governor who is familiarly called Uncle Birin.
