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The UGM Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM) and the Yanmar Environmental Sustainability Support Association (YESSA) from Japan have agreed to collaborate in developing sustainable agroforestry villages.
The agreement was signed on Friday (Aug. 30) at FTP UGM by the Dean of FTP UGM, Professor Eni Harmayani, and YESSA Senior Officer Yukino Hiroyasu.
Dean Harmayani explained that this collaboration began in 2017 with activities carried out by the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DTPB) at FTP UGM in partnership with YESSA.
These activities have involved various research and community service initiatives focused on sustainable tropical agro-industry in Selopamioro Village, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Province, and Sambak Village, Magelang Regency, Central Java Province.
According to Dean Harmayani, this collaboration has yielded significant results over the past seven years, including numerous research publications in national and international journals.
“Students and researchers have produced many publications,” Dean Harmayani said.
In addition, tropical fruit orchards, agrotourism systems, waste processing, and environmental monitoring, including air, soil, and water quality, have also been developed.
Dr. Ngadisih, a lecturer at FTP UGM, noted that Sambak Village, located in the upstream area of the watershed (DAS), is an agrarian community with over 80% of its population relying on the agricultural sector.
Therefore, it is crucial to maintain its ecosystem to ensure the hydrological balance downstream.
“The village implements agroforestry with coffee and fruit crops and manages tofu and cassava industries with biogas-based waste processing to produce green energy,” Dr. Ngadisih said.
In developing a zero-waste-based agrotourism program, FTP UGM has also supported the Sambak community with various initiatives, such as quality control of agricultural products using tofu steam boilers and dome dryers, development of bioproducts like bioplastics from coffee and cassava waste, smart environmental monitoring, and agroforestry development.
Besides being a foster village and a field school for FTP UGM students, the village has welcomed 690 visitors from various groups, including students, researchers, entrepreneurs, government officials, and the general public.
“They learn about the technological innovations applied in Sambak for village economic development while preserving the environment,” she said.
Dr. Sri Rahayoe, Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni at FTP UGM, and Professor Lilik Sutiarso, Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, attended the signing of the agreement between FTP UGM and YESSA.
YESSA’s Executive Secretary Kamikubo Keita, representatives from the Central Java Provincial Environmental Office, Magelang Regency, BAPPEDA of Magelang Regency, Kajoran District Head, Sambak Village Head, and other village officials were present.
Author: Rahma
Editor: Gusti Grehenson