UNDIP, Rejang Lebong (November 25, 2025) — Team II of Universitas Diponegoro’s (UNDIP) Patriot Expedition conducted a mapping of the potential and challenges of the agricultural sector in Padang Ulak Tanding District, Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province during a recent field visit. This activity is part of UNDIP’s continuous effort to create direct impact for local communities.
During the field visit, the team surveyed six Settlement Units: Taktoi, Taba Tinggi, Belumai II, Kasie Kasubun, Bukit Merbau, and Karang Baru — all of which have long been centers for the production of local leading commodities such as robusta coffee, rubber, palm oil, rice, and the region’s signature local durian. Each village demonstrates distinct characteristics and strengths, highlighting the diverse agrarian potential that can be further developed to boost the local economy.
Robusta coffee remains the primary commodity dominating nearly all villages. In SP Taba Tinggi, residents have begun implementing coffee grafting techniques through assistance from the Agricultural Extension Agency (BPP) in Padang Ulak Tanding. This step is considered a meaningful innovation to improve the quality and productivity of local coffee, primarily since Rejang Lebong is known as one of Indonesia’s producers of high-quality robusta coffee.
Aside from coffee, rubber is also widely cultivated. However, volatile prices and dependence on weather conditions have prompted some farmers to consider palm oil as an alternative, which they believe is more economically promising. In SP Belumai II, the community cultivates a combination of coffee, rubber, and rice, while the local government is preparing a community rice field development program as a follow-up to President Prabowo’s directive to strengthen rice production by utilizing available land.
SP Kasie Kasubun has a unique advantage with its local durian varieties, which often win fruit festivals in Padang Ulak Tanding and are marketed as far as outside Sumatera Province. However, these durians do not yet have distinctive names to strengthen regional identity and enhance their market value. Meanwhile, SP Karang Baru faces soil fertility issues due to suspected limestone contamination, which is affecting crop productivity. The local community requires soil analysis and further technical assistance to determine the most suitable commodities.
Amid the area’s vast potential, agricultural infrastructure remains a significant challenge. Many farm and plantation access roads are severely damaged. In several places, such as SP Bukit Merbau and SP Taktoi, four-wheeled vehicles cannot pass, and only chain-wheel motorcycles can navigate the muddy terrain during the rainy season. This condition not only hampers crop distribution but also obstructs agricultural extension and assistance activities.
Access to subsidized fertilizer is also a critical issue. Many farmers are not part of farmer groups, leaving them unregistered in SIMLUHTAN—the main requirement for obtaining subsidized fertilizer. Some residents are also not registered with the Civil Registry (Dukcapil), preventing them from submitting ID cards and family cards as required documents. On the other hand, non-subsidized fertilizer is considered too expensive, causing some farmers to fertilize only once a year or not at all, ultimately reducing plantation productivity.
BPP Padang Ulak Tanding explained that its extension services currently cover two districts — Padang Ulak Tanding and Binduriang. The heavy workload makes it difficult to provide optimal extension services, indicating the need for institutional support and restructuring to ensure more effective and equitable assistance.
Despite facing various structural and technical challenges, communities in the six SPs continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience. They consistently work to improve crop quality, maintain their farms, and open spaces for collaboration with various stakeholders. Team II of the UNDIP Patriot Expedition concluded that improving agricultural infrastructure, expanding fertilizer access, and strengthening continuous assistance could elevate robusta coffee, rice, and local durian as new economic drivers for Padang Ulak Tanding.
Through this activity, UNDIP reaffirms its commitment to staying close to communities and to contributing to regional development through applied research, community empowerment, and the strengthening of the agricultural sector. The spirit of ‘Noble and Valuable UNDIP’ and support for impactful Diktisaintek programs continue to be realized through concrete work that benefits the wider society. (Public Communication/UNDIP/Team 1 Patriot Expedition Rejang Lebong, Ed. DHW)
