Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) welcomed 20 international students to visit the Segayung Cocoa Farm and the UGM Cocoa Teaching and Learning Industry in Batang, Central Java, on Wednesday, 21 August 2024. This year’s Summer Course, with the topic “Delicious Tale from Bean to Bar,” highlighting the cocoa commodity.
According to Nur Akbar Arofatullah, S.P., M.Biotech., Ph.D., the coordinator of the program, this Summer Course is dedicated to the cocoa commodity. “The aim of this summer course is to promote cocoa farming in Indonesia, particularly in the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, as a leading commodity with significant market potential. Additionally, this program is expected to introduce the educational system and facilities at Faculty of Agriculture UGM, as well as to open opportunities for collaboration with universities across Asia,” explained Dr. Akbar.
The students toured to Segayung Cocoa Farm, where they learned about the processes from cocoa bean to fermentation and drying. Nur Saidatul Huda binti Zazali, a student from Malaysia, expressed her enjoyment of the unique environment at the cocoa farm. “I find that agriculture in Indonesia is quite different from Malaysia. It seems that agriculture in Indonesia, especially on Java Island, is more diverse,” Huda noted.
Karsokandung, the farm manager, revealed that the Segayung Cocoa Farm spans 164 hectares and cultivates four varieties of cocoa. The farm produces 1.5 tons of cocoa per hectare annually. The harvested cocoa is then taken to the Cocoa Teaching and Learning Industry (CTLI), where it is processed into products like cocoa powder and chocolate bars. Here, students had the opportunity to see various production machines and sample different chocolate products.
John Mark Santos from the Philippines, affectionately known as JM, shared his impressions of the visit to CTLI. “I am very impressed with the scale of chocolate production at this factory. The machines used are also very large,” JM said.
This Summer Course aims to enhance the global recognition of cocoa farming in Indonesia. The program supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG4: Quality education, SDG5: Gender equality, SDG9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG11: Sustainable cities and communities, SDG12: Responsible consumption and production, SDG13: Climate action and SDG17: Partnerships for the goals
Reporter: Yomita Misya
Editor: Desi Utami
Photo: Media Faperta