Practical Work in Kimak Village Rice Fields, Polman Negeri Babel Students Study Agricultural Technology
The scorching sun did not dampen the enthusiasm of Polman Negeri Babel students when they participated in the Alsintan practicum in Kimak Village. Under the guidance of lecturers and practitioners, they learned how agricultural tools and machines work, function, and maintain them directly.
The atmosphere of the rice fields in Kimak Village, Bangka, Tuesday (5/27/2025), looked different from usual. Dozens of first-year applied undergraduate students in the even semester from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel) were busy studying agricultural tools and machinery (alsintan) in a field practicum for the Agricultural Science and Technology course.
This practicum is an important part of the learning process in the Precision Agriculture Study Program, which is specifically designed to equip students with technical understanding and direct skills in the field.
Guided by experienced lecturers and practicing lecturers, students have the rare opportunity to interact directly with various types of alsintan in real rice fields.
A number of lecturers attended this activity, including Mahmudin, S.P., M.Si, Rizki Meliya Ningsih, S.P., M.Si, Badriyah, S.P., M.Si, Lesta, S.P., M.Si, Yuke Mareta Ariesta Sandra, S.P., M.Si, and Practitioner Lecturer Indra Feriyanto, S.P. Their presence increased the enthusiasm of students in absorbing knowledge directly from experts in their fields.
Mahmudin, S.P., M.Sc., as a lecturer in Precision Agriculture, emphasized that this practicum is not just a complement to theory, but a very valuable learning experience. Students can directly understand how various agricultural tools and machines work. This is important to shape their readiness to face the world of work that demands technical skills," he said.
According to Mahmudin, direct interaction with agricultural tools such as hand tractors, rice transplanters, and cultivators, allows students to connect theory with real practice.
"They not only see how the tools work, but are also involved in their operation and maintenance directly," he added.
He also added, With the guidance of expert practitioner lecturers in their fields, students can ask questions, discuss, and learn from field experiences. This practicum increases their understanding of work efficiency in the agricultural sector and opens up insights into developing technological innovations," he explained.
In line with that, Practitioner Lecturer Indra Feriyanto, S.P., said that the involvement of practitioners in activities like this is very important, ensuring that students not only understand the theory, but are also accustomed to facing real situations in the field. The world of agriculture today is increasingly modern and full of challenges," he said.
Indra also said that a deep understanding of agricultural machinery will be a great asset for precision agriculture students.
"With direct practice, they can be more sensitive to technical problems and are able to find practical solutions. This is very much needed in the future agricultural sector," he added.
The students also looked high throughout the activity. They not only took notes and observed, but actively tried every tool that was introduced which was based on field practice which is very effective in producing graduates who are ready to use and relevant to industry needs," he said.
With a high enthusiasm for learning and full support from the lecturers, this agricultural machinery practicum is a strategic step in preparing a new generation that is able to bring positive changes in the agricultural sector through technology," he said.
