Sekolah Vokasi UGM Meresmikan Laboratorium Pengolahan Kakao
Sekolah Vokasi UGM Meresmikan Laboratorium Pengolahan Kakao
Dean of UGM Vocational School inaugurated the Research and Incubation Room of Cacao Processing or cacao-processing laboratory on Wednesday (18/4). In this event, UGM Vocational School symbolically received the donation of 10 cacao-processing equipment from PT Mayora Indah Tbk.
"Indonesia is one of the largest cacao producers, but we have only been selling raw cacao beans all this time. We want to change that and become a chocolate producer," said Dean of Vocational School UGM, Wikan Sakarinto, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Wikan said the development of cacao processing is the first step for the community empowerment program under the teaching industry of UGM, prepared in Kulon Progo. This equipment, he said, can be utilized by the academicians of Vocational School and other faculties at UGM as a means to conduct practical work.
With this new equipment, it is expected that human resources in UGM can be more creative, skilled, and innovative, especially in developing cacao products.
"This equipment will be used routinely in agro-industry laboratories, but we also share with other faculties who are interested in using it for learning practices, as well as for community services. This is the first step in the big scheme of teaching industry program that will empower local people," he explained.
In the big development plan, Wikan added, UGM needs to cooperate with various parties, including from the industry. From the agro-industry, one of the partners is PT Mayora who is also engaged in the food-processing sector.
"It is a part of the growing link and match process. This cooperation begins with the MOU as the exterior, in which there are efforts with great influence on the welfare of the community, especially in the agronomy and food sector.”
The ten equipment received from PT Mayora are digital water-content meter (digimost), cacao roasting machine, cacao testing machine, cacao pod and bean splitter (desheller), cacao rough processing machine, refiner, conveyor, chocolate dough molding machine, manual fat forger, and cacao milling machine.
Representative from PT Mayora, Ir. Johan Budi, expressed his enthusiasm to cooperate with UGM. He praised the spirit and determination of UGM to be directly involved in mobilizing various economic sectors of the society. He also expressed support for other ways of cooperation that can provide benefits for the wider community.
"On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank you for this cooperation. We feel very honored to be working with UGM, and we are pleased that in a short time our cooperation has been quite fruitful. There are many other things we can do together, and I hope in the future our cooperation can be more successful," he said. (Public Relations UGM/Gloria)