trenddjakarta.com, Mataram. October 31, 2024 – Known as the City of a Thousand Mosques, Mataram possesses significant potential in agriculture and tourism. However, extreme climate conditions have severely impacted these sectors. Particularly drought emergencies that have reduced agricultural land, as forecasted by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) earlier in 2024. This statement is supported by data from the Mataram City Government Secretariat. Which shows that nearly 170 hectares of Protected Rice Fields (LSD) are expected to be lost. Furthermore, based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in 2023, of Mataram’s population of 441,147 people, only 12.99% pursue higher education. This presents a unique challenge for advancing the tourism sector in the region.
Cakap, a technology-based upskilling platform, is collaborating through the Catalytic Funding for Indonesia Impact Fund. An initiative by BPDLH (Environmental Fund Management Agency) under the Ministry of Finance and UNDP. And of course to support government climate change mitigation efforts. This program focuses on reducing emissions and achieving the Net Zero Emission target by 2060. With implementation in the regions of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).
By partnering with Cakap. BPDLH and UNDP are committed to educate the students on environmentally-friendly farming methods that help reduce carbon emissions. Hydroponics was selected as a solution due to its potential to support food security in climate-sensitive regions. This program provides students with the opportunity to learn sustainable farming practices and encourages them to become agents of change in their communities.
The program involves 30 schools and over 700 students in the NT seeT and NTB regions. Participants receive intensive training in English, through both online and face-to-face methods. As well as environmentally-friendly and climate-resistant hydroponic farming skills. In Mataram, the program emphasizes the application of climate-resilient farming practices, in line with the increasingly extreme climate conditions in the region.
According to Veronica Banister, Head of Education at Cakap, this program implements a curriculum tailored to local needs. It aims to support sustainable development for the young generation in Mataram. “Through this program, We ensure that the learning materials are highly relevant and tailored to local needs, enabling students in Mataram to apply them directly. This hyper-localized approach allows us to provide knowledge that is not only useful now but also sustainable in the long run. We hope that the knowledge they acquire will help them adapt to climate change. And also strenghten their English and sustainable agriculture skills,” said Veronica.
Appreciation and optimism regarding this collaboration were also expressed by Achmad Rifdatul Hisan, Project Leader of the BPDLH Catalytic Fund Program, He believes that collaboration among the involved parties can have a positive impact and support environmental progress and preservation in NTT-NTB. “We greatly appreciate Cakap’s role in providing targeted education to students in Mataram. This program not only provides practical skills but also equips students with in-depth insights into climate resilience and environmentally-friendly farming. This collaboration is essential to building a young generation ready to actively contribute to environmental preservation across NTT and NTB,” said Hisan.
The partnership between Cakap and the Catalytic Fund in NTT and NTB is part of a concrete effort to address climate change challenges through skill-based. Applicable education that supports climate resilience. Additionally, this training is also projected to support the tourism sector in the region. With significant potential in this area, there is a need to develop competent human resources, particularly in foreign language skills. By providing English language training, the program aims to better prepare students to contribute to the region’s growing tourism sector.
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