STUDY PLAN

*Imam Hidayat

I am from Polewali Mandar, a region in West Sulawesi with the majority of inhabitants
working in the agricultural sector, especially horticultural commodities. Unfortunately, it is managed
in a very limited way and method. Therefore, I am very interested and feel obliged to explore the
field of horticulture. If I am elected to get an affirmation scholarship for the underdeveloped
areas, I can return to serve the area.

A. Time Schedule of Study Implementation

After completing my bachelor's program in agrotechnology, for the last two years, I have
been participating as a research assistant in several research projects by the Biotechnology
Research and Development Center of Hasanuddin University. From this experience, I learned many
aspects about the development of biotechnology and organic agriculture.

I decided to take a master's program in Organic Agriculture specializing in Agroecology at

Wageningen University and Research (WUR). Organic agriculture is also closely related to the
research that I choose for my final task, namely the use of rhizobacteria from bamboo rhizosphere
as raw material for making Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria to support organic agriculture. I
plan to continue the research as a master thesis. That university offers suitable courses to support
my thesis research, especially Agroecology.

The reasone why I chosee WUR because this university, according to influential university
rankings, the university ranks world’s best in the field of Agriculture & Forestry and is ranked in
64th by Times Higher Education University Rankings.

This program will be implemented for two years or four semesters with 120 credits. The
first year consists of 40 weeks of coursework and the second year is divided into an academic
internship (16 weeks) and the thesis research (26 weeks). Here are the details:

Course Code Period Year Credit Status

Analysis and Design of September/
FSE-30306 1 6.00 Compulsory
Organic Farming Systems October

September/
Agroecology FSE-31806
October
1 6.00 Compulsory

Integrated Natural Resource November/

SBL-33306 1 6.00 Compulsory
Management in Organic Agriculture December

Methodologies for Reading November/

FSE-32306 1 6.00 Compulsory
Sustainable Foodscapes December
 Course Code Period Year Credit Status
January/
Nutrient Management SBL-31806
February
1 6.00 Optional

January/
Research Methods in Crop Science CSA-30806 1 6.00 Optional
February

Ecological Aspects of Bio-

ENT-30306 March/April 1 6.00 Optional
interactions
Advanced Crop Physiology CSA-30306 March/April 1 6.00 Optional
Research Master Cluster: Proposal
YEI-60312 March/June 1 12.00 Optional
Writing
MSc Thesis Soil Biology SBL-81836 2 36.00 Compulsory

MSc Internship Farming Systems

FSE-70424 2 24.00 Compulsory
Ecology

The reason why I choose organic agriculture, because Indonesia is an agrarian country and
agricultural development is a top priority in regional economic development. Indonesia has a great
opportunity to become a world organic food producer. Because Indonesia has tropical agricultural
land with diverse commodity, and the availability of abundant organic material.

B. Research Plan

Based on my bachelor research, soil from bamboo rhizosphere contains various kinds of
bacteria that are useful for the growth of the plant. One of them is nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria
which is able to provide nitrogen elements naturally for plants. The development of nitrogen-
fixing rhizobacteria from bamboo rhizosphere can be a solution to reduce the use of synthetic urea
fertilizer to support the organic agriculture, especially for lowland rice plants. However, there has
been no further research related to the biological potential of bamboo plants for agricultural
purposes even though Indonesia has the highest number of bamboo species in the world. Based on
the survey of the International Bamboo and Rattan Working Network (INBAR) in 2003, 1,250 types
of bamboo were spread throughout the world and 11% or about 159 species were native to
Indonesia (Dedolph, 2003).

Therefore, I am very interested in researching the biological potential of bamboo for

agricultural purposes as my research thesis. The title I propose is: "Indonesia's Endemic Bamboo
Microbiological Potential as an Organic Agriculture Solution in Indonesia". The purpose of the
study was to identify the types of microbes that are useful for agriculture such as phosphate-
solubilizing bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria, nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria in Indonesian
endemic bamboo such as Gigantochloa atroviolacea and Bambusa arundinacea. In addition, I will
conduct direct testing on several types of agricultural plants to see the effect.
C. Plan of activities outside lecturing

Two years studying at Wageningen University, I will not only focus on academic side, but I
will also join in an organizational aspect, either Indonesian or even International Students
Association. In addition, I will follow the organization in agricultural background. Lastly, I will be
actively participating in the following university and international activities such as volunteering
programs, competition, project and seminars.

D. Plan after completing a study

After finishing my education at Wageningen University, with responsibilities that I have, I

will go back to Indonesia to make a positive contribution. For instance, to directly apply the
knowledge that I have gained during my study, I will conduct a community project focusing on
agriculture specially organic farming which should have direct benefits for the communities. Then,
beside teaching in University of West Sulawesi, I will have seminars to be given to some students
in terms of agriculture and specifically in my expertise, organic agriculture, that I have gained
during my study. Lastly, I will prepare my PhD program due to be a professional lecturer.