UGM Beri Pendampingan Pada Petani Kakao Madiun
UGM Beri Pendampingan Pada Petani Kakao Madiun
Agricultural Engineering and Biosystems Department of Faculty of Agricultural Technology UGM has mentored cocoa farmers in Madiun, East Java.
The project lasting from 8-9 December 2018 centred on Kare village. UGM researchers and lecturers have socialised post-harvest techniques of cocoa to the farmers. They were trained on how to produce cocoa bean based products.
“The project has run as a follow-up to the cocoa machine and processing aid given by the Madiun local government to farmers,” said Dr. Joko Nugroho WK, Laboratory Head of the Faculty.
Over 25 farmers joined the project. They learned about cocoa farming condition in Madiun and Indonesia as well as methods in cocoa fermentation and drying, and best practices in chocolate production, which was explained by Arifin Dwi Saputro, Ph.D.
Institutional Enhancement Training
Apart from agricultural projects, the Department also conducted institutional enhancement of agricultural machines provision services (UPJA) for Madiun at the end of December 2018.
A Forum Group Discussion (FGD) was held and joined by 30 people from administrators and representatives from trade and industry agency and Madiun’s Planning and Development Agency. UGM was represented by Prof. Lilik Sutiarso, Dr. Radi, Andri Prima Nugroho, Ph.D., and Sri Markumningsih, M.Sc.
The UGM team explained the condition of current UPJA based on UGM’s surveys and analysis. Participants have responded positively to the event. They also made inquiries on the operations of transplanter and combine harvester as well as training and future plans.
Agriculture Agency’s Acting Head of Madiun, Ir. Edy Bintarjo, M.M., said the regency of Madiun had received plenty of agricultural machines aid. Thus, maintenance of the machines was much required to optimise the performance and resolve existing agricultural problems. One of the attempts they made was teaming up with UGM for training in modern agricultural technology applications for Madiun.