The Central Buton Regency Government and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) have inked a collaborative agreement encompassing education, research, and community service (tri-dharma).
The memorandum of cooperation was formalized by the Acting Regent of Central Buton, Dr. Andi Muhammad Yusuf, and the Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia.
Acting Regent Yusuf highlighted that Central Buton Regency, nestled within an archipelagic expanse, boasts significant potential in the fisheries and maritime sectors.
Central Buton Regency also harbors untapped prospects in cave tourism and mining, spanning seven districts and 76 villages and inhabited by approximately 119 thousand residents.
Despite its youthful status (a decade old), Central Buton’s regional revenue (PAD) potential remains relatively untapped.
“With the current APBD (regional budget) composition, we’re yet to surpass the 1 trillion mark. It hovers mostly around 800 billion. Hence, there’s a pressing need to explore this modest PAD to drive sustainable development and bolster the welfare of Central Buton residents,” he remarked at the UGM Rector’s Office on Friday (Feb. 23).
In light of this scenario, the acting regent underscored the necessity for a detailed and comprehensive cooperation agreement to address the Central Buton Regency’s issues more effectively. This entails delving into fisheries, maritime, tourism, and mining aspects.
“For nickel and limestone mining, most current companies merely adhere to CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) mandates. However, not everyone benefits from it,” he said.
“We aim to revise regulations, so incoming companies can implement more targeted CSR guidelines. This aligns with our goal of enhancing the human resources of Central Buton residents.”
Acting Regent Yusuf acknowledged the limited potential for paddy farming due to Central Buton’s natural conditions. However, the region boasts promising cave tourism prospects, earning it the moniker “the city or regency of 1,000 caves.”
Though a comprehensive study on cave tourism is yet to be conducted, foreign visitors have frequented Central Buton Regency and even generated content (YouTube) spotlighting its caves. The region’s underground caverns, reaching depths of almost 500 meters, rival those found abroad in terms of beauty.
“Lobster production is remarkable, and various shrimp species abound. Unfortunately, local residents often lack comprehensive information, leading them to undersell these prized commodities for around 600 thousand rupiahs, whereas prices soar to millions in urban centers,” he shared.
“Hence, we require studies yielding economic benefits. Through this MoU, we aim to unlock these opportunities for Central Buton residents to pursue undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies at UGM.”
Rector Ova Emilia extended her gratitude for the trust fostered since 2018, expressing hopes that the existing cooperation continues to yield positive outcomes.
Regarding Central Buton Regency’s potential, she underscored the collaborative avenue this cooperation presents. UGM stands poised to support and facilitate the aspirations of Central Buton residents ardently.
“We value this collaboration immensely. UGM remains deeply committed because, as a university, it requires a practical arena to engage with real-world issues, where knowledge blossoms,” she articulated.
Regarding fisheries, maritime, tourism, and mining prospects, the rector emphasized the necessity of detailed exploration in the subsequent agreement. UGM aspires for the collaboration to be comprehensive, from upstream to downstream operations.
Hence, for lobster cultivation, the objective is efficient cultivation and navigating through the marketing phase while ensuring export-quality standards.
“This is where we concentrate our efforts, and UGM is equipped with the requisite expertise. We even facilitate export permits. Lobsters are graded, and we boast laboratories to support these endeavors,” she elucidated.
Concerning human resource development, the rector proposed that if the Central Buton Regency Government extends scholarships to students intending to pursue higher education, including at UGM, they should sign a contract stipulating their return to the region post-graduation to contribute to Central Buton’s development.
Given the fisheries and maritime potential, she advocates for students to opt for fisheries-related disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels.
“Returning to the region should be contractual. It would be disheartening if students enroll at UGM but fail to return. We aspire for this joint initiative to nurture human resources and catalyze regional development in Central Buton Regency,” she concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photographer: Firsto