Mahasiswa UGM Galakkan Program Pengolahan Kreatif Jagung Pasca Panen
Mahasiswa UGM Galakkan Program Pengolahan Kreatif Jagung Pasca Panen
Corn is the main agricultural commodity for the 85% of residents of Koripan village in Bantul regency.The land cultivated for corn measures some 30 hectares, each producing 4-5 tonnes of corn during each harvesting. Since, the local people sell the corn raw to the market, the yields have not been satisfactory. This condition prompted five students of Universitas Gadjah Mada to promote creative processing of corn to improve their economy.
Five Mathematics and Natural Sciences students: Aris Dwi Saputra, Ahadi Damar Praserya, Muhammad Faidzdiya Ul haq Kharisma, and Mufti Khuzaimah Al-azizah, as well as Agricultural Technology student Erwina Safitri brought up this idea through the student creativity in the area of student community service.
Initially, the students trained the residents to make various products made from corn, including flour and noodle.
“We trained the residents on how to process maize flour and corn noodle. In the future we plan to give training on making bakpia cakes,” said Muhammad Faidzdiya on Tuesday (26/4).
The students further devised a good and sustainable marketing system for sales to other areas. “Currently, we are devising a business system to make the sales go well. A good system will make the business more structured whilst direction clear,” said Ahadi.
To ensure that the programme runs well, the students also involved experts in corn processing, food, and entrepreneurship. This way, after the programme, the residents will be able to continue the business and develop it further.
They hope that the residents of Koripan village will also be skillful in converting corn harvest into a product wih high economic value, thus increasing their income.
“A good and sustainable marketing system for the people of Koripan village is expected to be able to improve their economy,” Aris concluded.