UGM Women’s Study Center (PSW) held a monthly seminar on the Role of Women to SUpport Energy and Food Independence on Tuesday (3/3). On that occasion, Professor of the UGM Faculty of Animal Husbandry UGM, Prof. Ir. Ambar Pertiwiningrum, M.Sc., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN. Eng., conveyed that women have an important role in supporting the realization of energy and food independence.
Ambar said that women play an important role in the sustainability of energy and food independence programs. Even so, the existing programs have still rare to fully involve women.
"Not many programs involve women in their operation. Since the beginning, it should have involved women as a part of planning not just as users," she said.
She gave an example in the program of utilizing livestock waste with biodigester technology. In its operation, it did not run continuously because it did not involve and empower the community, including women.
"Because women rarely involved in the construction of biodigesters and their use. As a result, it was stalled because there was no education and community involvement," she said.
Ambar explained the utilization of waste treatment such as biogas as an energy source for household cooking and slurry for fertilizer are examples of things that considered as women’s empowerment. Thus, women can focus more on productive activities rather than finding wood for cooking.
"Women's involvement in livestock business can improve household resilience in the face of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, food security," she explained.
Reporter: Ika
Translator: Natasa A