As part of the community service and empowerment program, UGM students held organic farming training in Gerbosari and Ngargosari, Samigaluh, Kulon Progo, Sunday (30/1). The training program aims to upskill the community in organic farming, coffee grading, hydroponic farming, fish farming in buckets, and urine-based biofertilizer use.
Based on student observations, Gerbosari and Ngargosari have various tourism potentials, such as chrysanthemum agrotourism and coffee tourism. However, the community has yet to know how to optimally and correctly utilize, manage, and conserve abundant resources.
“Ngargosari has many tourist spots that are famous for their coffee. However, most of the beans are not locally sourced. People here prefer to sell green coffee beans rather than roasted ones that actually have a higher selling price,” explained team member Hesta Eka Satria.
The students invited two speakers to the event, namely Edi Dwi Atmaja, coffee expert and practitioner, and Dwi Umi Siswanti, UGM Biology lecturer, researcher, and integrated organic farming practitioner. Edi Dwi Atmaja taught the participants about coffee beans and how to differentiate and process them. Next, Dwi Umi Siswanti delivered how to produce and use mineral blocks for ruminants and urine-based biofertilizers.
“Usually, the urine is thrown away, when in fact, it can be processed into biofertilizer,” said Siswanti.
Data shows that Gerbosari has more than 7,000 goats whose urine can be processed into biofertilizer. In addition, a study revealed that the application of biofertilizer on 60-day-old chrysanthemums in Gerbosari caused an increase in height and number of leaves. Biofertilizers can also improve the quality, productivity, and resistance of plants.
“Organic plants have a higher value in the market. It will be even higher if produced by women such as the Women Farmer Group because it is a form of women’s empowerment,” she said.
Source: Samigaluh SCS-CEL Team