Master in Pest Science UGM held socialization sessions with the Department of Pests and Plant Diseases (HPT), Faculty of Agriculture UGM, and agencies within the Ministry of Agriculture, namely the Center for the Protection of Food Crops and Horticulture (BPTPH) on Thursday, January 13, 2022. The socialization was held at BPTPH Pandak, Bantul, followed by five people from the HPT Department and approximately twenty-five people from BPTPH. Five people who participated from the HPT Department were the Head of the Department, namely Dr. Tri Joko, S.P., M.Sc., Head of the Phytopathology Masters Study Program, namely Ani Widiastuti, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D., Head of the Plant Pest Masters Study Program, Dr. Suputa, S.P., M.P., Professor at the HPT Department, namely Prof. Ir. Achmadi Priyatmojo, M.Sc., Ph.D., and a part-time master’s degree student, Yuni Apriliana. Meanwhile, twenty-five people from BPTPH consist of POPT young experts and first experts, agricultural product quality supervisors to the head of the technical service section. The collaboration program aims to improve the quality of human resources within the Ministry of Agriculture and maintain the existence of the Master Program in Phytopathology and Plant Pest Science, Department of HPT.
Arriving at BPTPH, the HPT Department was welcomed and well received by Ir. Suharto Budiyono, MP, as Head of Balai and Ir. Paryoto, M.P as Person in Charge of the Laboratory for Observing Pests and Plant Diseases. In the presentation session of the collaboration program, many things were explained, starting from the registration procedure, the requirements, and documents that must be prepared, the courses offered, to the program graduation requirements. The participants also actively asked questions and discussed after the presentation session; Mr. Tri Joko, as the Head of the Department, said he would continue to maintain communication with BPTPH and was ready to assist. From the discussion results between the two parties, it was found that 13 prospective students from BPTPH were interested in joining the master’s program. It is hoped that new students from BPTPH can start lectures in the odd semester (August – December 2022). At the end of the socialization, the HPT Department was served lunch at Ingkung Kuali Restaurant, Jl. Guwosari, Kedung, Guwosari, Kec. Pajangan, Bantul Regency with Mr. Paryoto and one POPT associate expert.
