Enggano Island, located in North Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu Province, boasts abundant agricultural and plantation potential, as well as fishery commodities.
The extensive banana plantations on Enggano have made the island famous as a banana producer, and the fruit’s distribution has reached Sumatra and even Java.
The collaborative UGM and UNIB Community Service Program (KKN PPM) students captured this potential, making it a flagship program to support the broader themes of creative economy development, food sovereignty, tourism, and local culture.
In addition to bananas, the collaborative KKN students successfully partnered with the Ketahun Watershed Management Agency in Bengkulu Province as a strategic partner in developing fruit orchards across all villages in Enggano District.
Farrah Eka Putri, the coordinator of the Agro cluster for KKN PPM from UGM, stated that 2,500 fruit seedlings, including durian, avocado, mango, and guava, were brought to Enggano Island and planted in village-owned orchards with local farmers to support the development of natural agro-tourism on Enggano Island, which has many attractive natural tourism spots.
“All of these fruit seedlings were the result of gathering aspirations from each village that had the enthusiasm to develop their fruit orchards,” said the student from UGM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in a statement sent to reporters on Thursday (Aug. 15).
UGM Vice-Rector for Planning, Assets, and Information Systems, Dr. Arief Setiawan Budi Nugroho, who attended the simultaneous planting event in Banjarsari Village, stated that this collaborative KKN student program is very strategic for supporting the development of agricultural and plantation products, which can also be a unique attraction for visitors to the many natural tourist destinations in Banjarsari Village.
“This program will align with the mission of all villages on Enggano Island, which is to improve community welfare through the development of the tourism sector,” he said.
A similar sentiment was expressed by UGM Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching, Professor Wening Udasmoro, who noted that the simultaneous fruit seedling planting activity has successfully motivated village communities to utilize their land optimally and productively.
“This activity proves that community empowerment programs involving KKN students have a positive impact in both the short and long term,” she said.
The field supervisor of the collaborative KKN, Dr. Hatma Suryatmojo, explained that students well interpreted the food security program on Enggano Island by gathering aspirations and mapping out village land to be developed into village fruit orchards.
The presence of fruit seedlings has successfully spurred enthusiasm for increasing land productivity. For example, in Banjarsari Village, the village head has approved the development of 25 hectares of village land into a fruit orchard to support natural agrotourism leading to the Bat Cave.
“When the 25-hectare fruit orchard in Banjarsari Village becomes productive, the community will gain significant benefits,” said Dr. Suryatmojo.
In the plantation sector, Dr. Suryatmojo said, this fruit orchard will produce various types of fruits that can be sold and have high economic value, both in the local market and through wider distribution networks in Bengkulu and beyond.
The sales revenue will become a new source of income for the community while also enhancing local food security.
Meanwhile, in the tourism sector, this fruit orchard can be an additional attraction to support agrotourism at the village’s Bat Cave.
“Tourists visiting the cave can enjoy the beauty of the fruit orchard, participate in harvest activities, or purchase fresh fruit as souvenirs, all of which can enhance the tourist attraction and increase the number of tourist visits,” he said.
Regarding efforts to improve community welfare, Dr. Suryatmojo emphasized the significant impact. He noted that in the creative economy development aspect, this fruit orchard has the potential to spark new businesses such as fruit processing, including making jam, juice, and chips.
Additionally, producing handicrafts from natural materials around the orchard and developing homestays or restaurants serving fruit-based dishes could further enhance the local economy.
From an environmental perspective, the fruit orchard will also provide ecological benefits by increasing green land cover, reducing the risk of soil erosion, and improving local air quality.
Dr. Suryatmojo hopes that the development of this fruit orchard will improve community welfare by creating new jobs, increasing income, and diversifying sustainable economic sources.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif