The Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program of the Faculty of Agriculture at UGM once again held Pagelaran Kasongo 2024. This biannual event, now in its ninth edition, carried the theme “Young Agri-AIvolution.” The head of the organizing committee, Shafira Azkia Afham, S.P. (Alumnus of the PKP Program), shared that Pagelaran Kasongo aims to introduce the Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program (Prodi PKP) to the wider community and increase the interest of young people in the agricultural sector.
“The purpose of Pagelaran Kasongo is to introduce Prodi PKP in general and to specifically increase interest in agricultural studies. We hope that the agricultural sector in our country will continue to grow with increasing interest from the younger generation,” said Shafira.
The series of activities for Pagelaran Kasongo, held on Saturday, 5 October 2024, at the Prof. Harjono Danoesastro Auditorium, Faculty of Agriculture UGM, included an introduction to the Faculty of Agriculture UGM by Dr. Dyah Woro Untari, S.P., M.P., Head of the PKP Study Program, followed by poster infographic competition presentations and a short course. Shafira further explained that the short course, which was attended by high school students and university students, offered several classes: media, extension, and communication. Shafira mentioned that the enthusiasm for the short course in Pagelaran Kasongo 2024 was very high, with a total of 75 participants from high schools and universities across various regions.
This year’s Pagelaran Kasongo was the first to be held in-person after four years of being conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shafira saw the high enthusiasm from participants as a significant achievement for the Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program, the Department of Agricultural Social Economics, and the Faculty of Agriculture at UGM.
“As the committee, we see the high enthusiasm from the participants as a positive impact for all parties involved, adding valuable experience and expanding networks. Through this short course, we also facilitated the participants in developing a systematic way of thinking as the younger generation in the agricultural sector,” added Shafira.
On this occasion, the Head of the Department of Agricultural Social Economics, Dr. Jangkung Handoyo Mulyo, M.Ec., expressed his appreciation to the PKP students who served as the organizing committee for Pagelaran Kasongo 2024. He commended them for successfully organizing this prestigious event, which answers the challenge of nurturing the next generation in agriculture.
“We, as the management of the Department of Agricultural Social Economics, always provide freedom for students to enhance their soft skills, whether through event committees or the Family of Agricultural Social Economics Students (KMSEP). Today, I appreciate the students involved in the Pagelaran Kasongo 2024 organizing committee for hosting an event that answers our shared challenge for agricultural regeneration,” said Jangkung.
Pagelaran Kasongo 2024 is a strong manifestation of the commitment from students and educators at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM to contribute to achieving the SDGs, particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Author: Hanita Athasari Zain & Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami
Photos: Pagelaran Kasongo 2024 Organizing Committee Documentation