UNDIP, Way Kanan – Way Tuba (November 11, 2025). Minister of Transmigration, Iftitah Sulaimana, conducted a working visit to Way Tuba Subdistrict, Way Kanan Regency, to meet directly with the Patriot Expedition Team of Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), who are currently carrying out research and community empowerment programs in the transmigration area. The visit marks a significant milestone, underscoring the government’s unwavering support for academic collaboration and community engagement in advancing the development of transmigration regions.
During the visit, the Minister emphasized that the paradigm of transmigration development has shifted. “Transmigration today is not just about relocating people, but about equalizing human resources. We are no longer simply moving people, but building the capacity and competitiveness of communities across the country,” she stated before the expedition team, subdistrict officials, and local government representatives.
Furthermore, Minister Iftitah stressed that regional development will not succeed if people wait for orders from above. “Today is no longer the era of being instructed, but the era of initiative. Communities, academics, and local governments must move together to create change from the ground up,” she affirmed.
In a forum also attended by the Way Kanan Regency Office of Transmigration, Minister Iftitah expressed appreciation for the UNDIP Patriot Expedition Team’s efforts in researching leading commodities in the transmigration area. According to him, research findings such as these can serve as a contextual and targeted basis for policymaking, while strengthening the economic independence of transmigrant communities—particularly through the potential development of rubber and oil palm as key drivers of the local economy.
Nani Kitti Sihaloho, leader of the UNDIP Patriot Expedition Team, stated that this initiative provides a valuable learning space to directly understand the socio-economic realities of transmigrant communities.
“Way Tuba and the surrounding areas have highly potential land for the development of rubber and oil palm. These are not only the primary sources of livelihood for the community but could also form new economic clusters if managed in an integrated manner,” she explained.
She added that this potential can be developed through a value-chain approach, starting with strengthening farmer institutions and improving production capacity, and then establishing local processing units.
“Rubber and oil palm can become economic drivers if they are not sold only as raw materials. Through training, market access, and institutional support, communities can develop downstream products such as processed latex materials, pure palm oil, or its derivatives. This process is what we aim to promote through our expedition research,” Nani continued.
The Patriot Expedition activities in Way Tuba reflect how scientific knowledge can be present within communities, not as instructions, but as a space for dialogue and collaboration. From the fields to discussion rooms, the team works to integrate data with local wisdom, building the understanding that real development emerges from empowered, initiative-driven communities.
Minister Iftitah’s visit reaffirms that the spirit of modern transmigration is no longer limited to population movement but encompasses the equal distribution of knowledge, initiative, and self-reliance. Through synergy among the government, academia, and communities, Way Tuba is expected to grow into a model of transmigration development based on leading local commodities—ones that are independent, productive, and sustainable. (Public Communication/UNDIP/Patriot Expedition Team Way Tuba)
