REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Some 87 percent of alumni of the Bogor University of Agriculture (IPB) have been engaged in agricultural technology.

Based on IPB's data, the university produced 6,773 bachelors in 2015, and 79.20 percent of the graduates worked in accordance with their majors, a spokesman of IPB said in a statement, here, Monday.

Besides, 87 percent of the IPB alumni worked in agricultural technology, and only nine percent worked in banking sector.

Dr Iwan Riswandi, M./Si, deputy director for human resources affairs of the Development Cooperation Unit of the IPB Non-Degree Program, said he favored IPB graduates joining state-owned companies, particularly in banking sector.

Most of the country's farmers are not rich and they need funds to manage their farming lands.

Only IPB graduates could understand the needs of farmers, and they would be willing to channel funds or credits for farmers, he said.

Also read: Jokowi criticizes IPB for failing to produce farmers

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has criticized IPB for failing to produce graduates who take up farming.

"I am sorry, rector, but there are many IPB graduates who work in banks. I have observed that many directors and managers at state-owned banks are IPB graduates. Hence, who will be the farmers," he noted in a speech at the IPB anniversary event at the state institute's campus in Bogor, West Java, on Sept, 6.

The president said his honest statement was based on data of IPB graduates.

President Jokowi said he believed IPB and its graduates have the capability to produce farmers to realize food resilience and ensure the welfare of the farming community.

"I will continue to invite IPB to maintain cooperation with the government to meet the goals. It must not stop innovating. It must not stay at the throne but must reach out to the people in the field to help realize food self-sufficiency in the country and improve the farmers' welfare," he emphasized.

In connection with this, President Jokowi expressed hope that the IPB would establish new faculties or departments to adapt to global changes with regard to preparing an able workforce.

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