"While the long-term outcomes of this training are expected to support the food security program."
Delft, the Netherlands (ANTARA News) - The Dutch government through NufficNeso Indonesia has provided ten Stuned scholarships on tailor made training program in the field of horticulture to Indonesia`s Ministry of Agriculture.

The scholarship recipients consist of seven staff members of the Directorate General of Horticulture, one staff member of the Directorate General of Agricultural Processing and Marketing and two private practitioners dealing with the horticultural export business, the Director of NufficNeso Indonesia Mervin Bakker said in a press release received by ANTARA here Thursday.

According to him the scholarship recipients would participate in a training under the theme Public-Private Cooperation for Sustainable Horticulture Supply Chains from 24 September until 14 October 2012 at HAS Den Bosch University, in Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.

"We are pleased that Directorate General of Horticulture choose the Netherlands to study. HAS Den Bosch University is one of the flagship campus in applied agriculture. In addition, the horticulture courses are presented in English. As such, students should not be used to learn Dutch language to study in the Netherlands," Mervin said.

The Netherlands has been known for a worldwide reputation in the field of agribusiness and horticulture. In addition to classroom training, the participants will also visit several companies in the Netherlands that have partnered with the government in promoting the horticulture industry, he added.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of Horticulture Directorate General Mat Syukur said horticultural agribusiness development needs a comprehensive approach by taking into account all aspects and segments of agribusiness from upstream to downstream to maintain a balance of production, distribution and consumption, which can benefit all parties involved therein.

"One such way to carry out a comprehensive approach is by Supply Chain Management approach that is a network of interdependent organizations and cooperate profitably through the development of management systems for the improvement of the production and product distribution, as well as information and services provided from the farmers to the consumers," he explained.

He hoped the training would improve the competency of the Directorate General of Horticulture in facilitating the private sector to manage the horticultural products supply chain effectively.

"While the long-term outcomes of this training are expected to support the food security program," Matt Syukur added.

During the training, participants will learn the models of public-private partnerships in the Netherlands which will later on be applied in Indonesia. Therefore after training, Stuned`s support will continue by funding HAS Den Bosch to assist the participants who apply their learning according to the conditions in Indonesia through two workshops held in December 2012 and March 2013.

NufficNeso Indonesia is a Dutch organization that handles international cooperation in the field of higher education, as well as to manage the StuNed (Studeren in Nederland-Study in the Netherlands) scholarship program.

Every year StuNed program sends about 200 Indonesian students to study in the Netherlands through education masters program, short courses and tailor made training.
(KR-LWA/B005) 20-09-2012 13:48:18

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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