A team from Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Community Service Program (KKN-PPM), assigned to Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta City, has introduced an urban agriculture innovation through a program titled “Integrating Solar Energy and Modern Farming.” In collaboration with the Giwangan Community Empowerment Institution (LPMK), they developed a Solar Power Plant (PLTS) system to support household-scale hydroponic farming.
Lanang Timur Anjo, the coordinator of the team, explained that the program was designed to address two key challenges: food security in urban areas and the transition to environmentally friendly energy.
“By harnessing solar energy, this system enables residents to grow vegetables hydroponically in limited spaces, with lower energy costs and an environmentally friendly approach,” said Anjo on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025.
Anjo noted that the collaboration between the UGM KKN-PPM team and LPMK Giwangan adopted a participatory approach.
Residents, particularly homemakers and urban farming groups, were actively involved in activities such as renewable energy education, training on assembling simple solar panels, and hands-on installation of the solar-powered hydroponic systems.
Yanto, Chair of LPMK Giwangan, expressed appreciation for the program initiated by UGM students.
He hopes that the community will be able to independently adopt the technology after the program ends.
“This initiative can serve as a model for community empowerment that is adaptive to climate challenges and limited urban land,” he said.
The solar-powered hydroponic system developed by the UGM KKN students consists of 50-watt solar panels equipped with a control system and a water pump that delivers nutrients to the plants.
The equipment is designed to be energy-efficient, easy to maintain, and suitable for households beginning their urban farming journey.
Through this initiative, Giwangan residents gained new knowledge, practical skills, and inspiration to apply appropriate technology in daily life.
“We hope this program will be the first step toward making Giwangan a model for modern agriculture based on renewable energy in Yogyakarta,” Anjo added.
According to him, the KKN team and local partners will continue to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the program to assess its effectiveness and explore possibilities for broader-scale development.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photograph: UGM KKN-PPM Umbulharjo Team