The UGM Faculty of Biology conducted a community service program focused on mitigating and handling the pandemic in Sleman Regency.
The programs raised the food theme. One of them is to encourage the stability of family food fulfillment in urban areas, specifically in Condongcatur Village, Sleman. Then, the food diversification program realized food safety in rural areas, namely in Madurejo Village, Sleman.
The head of the research team and the Dean of the UGM Faculty of Biology, Prof. Budi S. Daryono., conveyed that the length of the period in implementing the mitigation and handling program for the Covid-19 pandemic will be until December 2020. This program aims to provide benefits to increase economic resilience. Also, it stimulates the process of adapting to new habits amid society in the face of a pandemic, especially in the food sector.
“The program offered is a form of mitigation for the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic from the food sector,” he explained on Thursday (13/8).
In implementing the program to maintain the stability of food supply for residents in rural areas in the Village of Condongcatur, he encourages the community to take advantage of the narrow land/yard to cultivate food crops by integrating with the processing of household waste into organic liquid fertilizer.
“The food crop cultivation program combined with catfish cultivation,” he explained.
Meanwhile, there is assistance in the food diversification program by educating residents regarding milk pumpkin cultivation as a food diversification target. Previously, Madurejo students who have been assisted by UGM Faculty of Biology since three years ago conducted the food diversification program through pumpkin milk products. At present, the Faculty of Biology is in the process of improving assistance to the students.
Not only about food diversification, but there was also training in processing household waste into organic liquid fertilizer and catfish feed given to the residents.
The program offered by UGM has received a positive response from residents. The head of the Tunas Jaya farmer group is one of the parties that conveyed a positive response. He is Maryanto from Madurejo Village, expressed that it was a great benefit of mentoring and fostering the Faculty of Biology UGM. Especially during this pandemic, the presence of UGM in the community provides directions on how to achieve food security.
“We hope that there will be a sustainability program supported by independent seeds and marketing assistance for pumpkin milk flour products in the future,” he said.
Author: Ika
Translator: Natasa A