Rural Sustainable Agro Training Center North Sumatra Indonesia

Rural Sustainable Agro Training Center, North Sumatra Indonesia I foresee in the near future Sumatra will become an important supplier in sustainable agro, cattle and fish farming & industry. Sumatra has many opportunities to offer in environmental, sustainable development, also because of its diversity in landscape and environment: highland, midland lowland. A prominent seat as sustainable supplier will be given to Sumatra. Not only in Indonesia, but at least for Asia and Australia too. In year of 2002 (11 th March 2002) I started to experiment with growing a diversity of (highland) vegetables in cooperation with agro students of the regency of North Tapanuli. Not too big, just one hectare to learn about the potentials. Without experience, little know how and few facilities I dare to say the potentials are enormous; the potentials of the students and the land itself for development of highland agro business, farming & industry, research & education. A space of 15 hectare (150. 000 m 2) as a first step and challenge; in this case specific for Highland Agro Business as well to establish an Agro Education & Research Center. Later on we could expand up until 25 or 50 or 75 hectare, also doing sustainable cattle breeding and fish farming & industry; or expand from Highland to Midland to Lowland of Sumatra. As former ambassador in Europe, I have been traveling a lot in European countries and other continents as well. The same agro growth of vegetables, flowers and fruits over there is also to be found in the highland of Sumatra. We can use their knowledge, learn and become join partners. Leonard Tobing

Profile In cooperation with de government of North Tapanuli, the young professionals of the agro school SMK (Vocational training for agro culture) at Siatas Barita pratice their skills on the property of Leonard Tobing The researche center Tongkoh, at Berastagi in the Karo Regency advises and helps Leonard Tobing and ‘his’ students. But to get at the research center, you have to travel 4 hours by car North Tapanuli is a regency of North Sumatra (Sumatra Utara). This regency is famous because of its Lake Toba. Therefore it is not unusual that for many tourists Lake Toba is the reference of North Tapanuli. The capital city of North Tapanuli is Tarutung. Nearby the capital city, approximate 14 km, is a local area called Pagarbatu. In this local area Leonard Tobing wants to establish the ‘Tapanuli Sustainable Agro Center’. A space of 14 hectare (140. 000 m 2) as a first step and challenge; in this case specific for Highland Agro Business as well to establish an Agro Education & Research Center. The local government of North Tapanuli has a vision of five development strategies: 1. To enhance the people’s prosperity and quality of Human Resources. 2. Increasing the Natural resources value by applying environmental friendly regional development. Talking with one of ‘his’ students 3. Establishing a rapid infrastructure development, which supports the enhancement of production and distribution. 4. To captivate both domestic and foreign investors to increase the economic value, improvement of education and social welfare. 5. Improving the Regent Government Officers ability, both of the Human Resources and loyalty aspects. As former ambassador in Europe and as a member of The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Leonard Tobing has been asked by the local government of North Tapanuli to promote, develop and establish. Recently Leonard Tobing decided to use his property of 14 hectare to develop and establish the ‘Rural Sustainable Agro Training Center’; as a first step. Pusat Pelatihan Pertanian Dan Pedesaan Swadaya Agro Ihutan Pagarbatu email: agroihutan@gmail. com Leonard Tobing recently (september 2004) organized a ‘Pasar Indonesia’ in Singapore, which promotes the Indonesian vegetables

North Sumatra (Sumatra Utara) Pagarbatu Lake Toba Pusat Pelatihan Pertanian Dan Pedesaan Swadaya Agro Ihutan Pagarbatu email: agroihutan@gmail. com

Environment Banking in Tarutung Highland (Regency of North Tapanuli, capital city Tarutung) • Almost 10% of the total area is flat • 1. 000 m – 2. 000 m above sea level • 2. 200 mm – 3. 000 mm rainfall per year • 80 % - 90 % humidity • 12°C - 14°C in the morning • 24°C - 27°C in the afternoon • 14°C - 18°C in the evening • Composition of the ground: Anisole • Vegetative growth: fast Infrastructure and human resources of the local area Pagarbatu • Nearby the capital city Tarutung, 14 km • Nearby the new local airport ‘Silangit’, 25 km. At the end of the year 2007 the new airport will be used by Fokker 50’s; in 2008 – 2009 also suitable for Boeing 737. • Electricity, water and communications are functioning well • Tarutung has its own university, agro school, market place, banking, internet facilities, post offices and many more of public services. • Almost 90% of the population is related to agro • The local area is well asphalted Asphalted infrastructure Pusat Pelatihan Pertanian Dan Pedesaan Swadaya Agro Ihutan Pagarbatu email: agroihutan@gmail. com