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| Orchid class that has interesting business opportunities in the future. (Photo: Public Relations UMM) |
Orchid plants are promising commodities to be used as business opportunities. Compared to other ornamental plants, the relatively high price has made some people start cultivating orchids for resale. Seeing this opportunity, the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) held the Orchid Plant Center of Excellence (CoE) Excellence Class program.
The person in charge of the CoE Orchid program, Drs. H. Nurwidodo, M.Kes., said that this class was created to equip students in orchid cultivation and marketing. His party has attracted several industrial and work partners (Iduka) such as Mitra Flora Nusantara (MFN), the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Orchid Association (DPP PAI), and the Regional Leadership Council of the Indonesian Orchid Association (DPD PAI). This collaboration is expected to encourage the participants to become entrepreneurs and a competent workforce in the field of orchids.
"Initially, this superior class came from the Independent Learning Campus (MBKM) program and work internships initiated by the UMM Biology Education Study Program in August last year. The program successfully gave birth to five young entrepreneurs in orchid cultivation. Because of this success, UMM finally developed this program into a superior class," explained the lecturer who was born in Jogja.
Furthermore, Nurwidodo explained that this program is limited to students and the general public interested in orchid cultivation. The period for the implementation of the CoE is six months. The initial three months will be filled with in-class theory. After that, the participants will be allowed to do an internship at the partner's place for the next three months.
"With the immediate learning process with competent partners, it is hoped that the participants will be motivated to become entrepreneurs. We are also committed that if the participants cannot become entrepreneurs within six months, we will extend the training period," said the Biology lecturer.
At the end of the interview, Nurwidodo said that this program would continue to be developed. Not only collaborating with national farmers, but his party also plans that in the future, the orchid production from this professional class can be exported to other countries. "However, our main focus, for now, is to create entrepreneurs in the field of orchid cultivation and marketing," he concluded. (cdr/syi/wil)
