Since June, UGM has given mentoring to hundreds of farmers in Sumberharjo village, Prambanan district. Now, the farmers can produce bean harvests three times more as compared to the production of other farmers.
“The production of beans by the farmers whom we have given mentoring reached as high as 2.98 tonnes per hectare, or much bigger than the production of other farmers,” said lecturer from Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Dr. Ir. Sri Sulandari, S.U., after harvesting the bean in Sumberharjo on Tuesday (20/9).
The mentoring is conducted in the community service programme based on research and technology. The faculty explained the bioagents to increase production and prevent pests or disease.
UGM Director for Community Service, Prof.Ir. Irfan Dwidya Prijambada, M.Eng.,Ph.D., said the programme was a form of contribution from UGM to the surrounding community. The programme was well responded by the farmers who have been taught on planting and harvesting process.
“From generation to generation, the farmers here have cultivated beans. But when there are pests attacking the plants, we find those difficult to tackle. With the presence of UGM, the farmers have now moved three steps forward,” said Head of Prambanan Technology Development Agency, Ismu Prayitno.
The natural condition, he said, had indeed made the farmers pessimistic of producing good crops. But with the help from UGM, the farmers can now have satisfactory yields.
He expected the programme would be able to develop the skills of the farmers more and increase the potential of Sumberharjo village which is the centre of bean commodity in Sleman regency.