Mapala Gramenia Faperta ULM Holds Action to Convey Aspirations to Commemorate World Food Day

Banjarbaru – Dozens of Gramenia Nature Lovers (MAPALA) Students, Faculty of Agriculture, Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) Banjarbaru gathered at the Simpang Empat Roundabout in Banjarbaru City on Friday (13/10/2023). This action was carried out to commemorate World Food Day which falls every October 16.

In this action, students who are members of Mapala Gramenia Faperta Banjarbaru expressed their views regarding issues of sustainability and food diversity as well as the agricultural and plantation sectors. The students also carried out theatrical actions by carrying posters with their demands written on them. Apart from that, the action participants also unfurled banners reading “PULIHKAN KALSEL”.

During this action, the students conveyed a number of demands, including:

1. Urge the government to reduce the price of fertilizer and all kinds of medicines for both agriculture and plantations and provide easy access to farmers.
2. Urge the government to immediately resolve conflicts between residents’ agriculture and plantations and environmentally destructive companies which cause damage to people’s managed land.
3. Urge the government to carry out repairs and recovery for farmers whose land has been affected by natural disasters or disasters caused by environmentally destructive companies.
4. Urge the Governor of South Kalimantan to make clear regulations governing the selling prices of food products from plantations and agriculture that favor farmers.
5. The National Police Headquarters and the South Kalimantan Regional Police Chief must immediately enforce the law against environmental destroyers, especially mining and palm oil plantations, and environmental crimes that cause damage to community land.
6. Urge the government to commit and implement to increase the quality and quantity of food.
7. The government must stop new permits for environmentally destructive corporations, permits often cause environmental damage which results in food shortages.

Apart from giving speeches and reading press releases, in this action to commemorate World Food Day, the students also distributed 400 packs of fresh vegetables to people passing around the Banjarbaru intersection 4 roundabout.

The action of conveying opinions by Gramenia Nature Lovers Students, Faculty of Agriculture, ULM in Banjarbaru received security from the Banjarbaru Resort Police. Banjarbaru Police Chief, AKBP Dody Harza Kusumah, S.I.K., S.H., M.Sc., through the Head of Banjarbaru Police Samapta AKP Siswadi said that his party supported the action of expressing opinions in public carried out by Gramenia Nature Lover Students. According to him, this action is a form of community participation in safeguarding sustainable development.

“We really appreciate the students’ initiative in voicing their views regarding food sustainability and other issues. “The security measures we are carrying out are to ensure the smooth and safe running of this action and to ensure that the public or other road users can continue their activities as usual,” he said.

This action held by Mapala Gramenia students illustrates that more and more young people are concerned about sustainability and environmental issues, and are actively participating in voicing their opinions to create change through activities with positive value.