Jangkang Hamlet in Wedomartani Village, Ngemplak, Sleman, is one of the sugarcane-producing hamlets in Yogyakarta. As such, it generates a considerable amount of dry sugarcane leaf waste.
Additionally, the gardens in this area serve as disposal sites for bagasse waste, which often causes foul and unpleasant odors. Sugarcane farmers typically burn the dry leaves on the land, which results in air pollution and soil damage.
For the UGM team taking part in the Student Creativity Program–Community Service, consisting of Roisatu Khurin Ain, Dionisius Marlon Ayofi, Ilham Nur Rahman, Alma Karida Anwar (Agro-Industrial Technology 2021), and Shaina Kyra Nadira (Food Science and Agricultural Product Technology 2022), all of this waste represents a potential resource that can be harnessed.
Guided by Dr. Megita Ryanjani Tanuputri, the team engaged in community service in Jangkang Hamlet with their innovative program to create bagasse bio-briquettes from sugarcane waste.
This community service activity aims to develop Wedomartani Village’s economic potential, meeting the community’s need for adequate skills to access untapped potential.
Up to now, a significant amount of bagasse and sugarcane waste has yet to be optimally utilized. Sugar mills often dispose of these waste products without further treatment, allowing the local community to collect them.
Roisatu Khurin Ain explained that the team’s training paid special attention to the female residents, especially homemakers.
“With only their husbands as breadwinners, their earnings are not significant. Therefore, through this training, we hope to improve their knowledge and support the economic well-being of families in Jangkang Hamlet,” said Khurin Ain on Tuesday (October 10).
According to Khurin Ain, sugarcane harvest waste has significant potential. When properly utilized, this waste could increase income and address concerns for Jangkang Hamlet residents regarding the waste’s foul odor, dust, and flies.
Dionisius Ayofi added that the team successfully empowered 61 homemakers in Jangkang Hamlet through regular training sessions in the past months.
“We informed them about our program plans and requested permits. We obtained permits from the Wedomartani Village Office and community leaders through formal letters,” Ayofi explained.
Some successfully implemented activities included introducing the bio-bagasse product from sugarcane waste, training on making bio-bagasse briquettes, packaging and selling bio-bagasse briquettes, and developing a production house.
Shaina Nadira expressed her gratitude that this community service project positively impacted the homemakers in Jangkang Hamlet. In addition to gaining new knowledge about repurposing unused sugarcane waste into bio-bagasse briquettes, the women also earned additional income from these activities.
“Based on interviews with some participants, they said they were pleased and grateful to the UGM students who had helped the community understand the production steps, production equipment used, and product packaging processes for bio-bagasse briquettes,” Nadira said.
She acknowledged that the quality of the briquettes produced by the partner community was already excellent. The community confirmed this by testing the briquettes during the second training meeting.
Author: Agung Nugroho