Kalijeruk II Hamlet, Widodomartani Village, Ngemplak District, Sleman Regency, has again been selected as the location for UGM’s Community Service Program (KKN-PPM). Around 80 percent of the hamlet’s area consists of agricultural land, and it is blessed with many water sources.
True to its name, Kalijeruk II is derived from the word ‘kali,’ meaning river, and the word ‘jeruk,’ which translates to citrus. This hamlet is situated between two major rivers and several water sources flowing throughout the village.
While the name suggests citrus fruits, not every resident of Kalijeruk II has citrus trees. Moreover, a significant portion of yard space in the hamlet remains underutilized as green open spaces, including in Kalijeruk II.
The student community service team of the Ngemplak unit, consisting of Mikhael Davies as the coordinator, Mutiara Wahyu N, Brian Alexander Sinisuka, Rasti Amelia, Al Qaeda Indraningtiyas, Senja Karisma Putri, and Rafaa Zahra Syarufa, has taken steps to improve green open spaces in Kalijeruk II through a program of planting citrus seedlings.
A total of 90 citrus seedlings were planted, including varieties such as Pomelo (Citrus grandis), Key Lime (Citrus Aurantiifolia), Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix), and Mandarin Orange (Citrus reticulata), on Monday (8/7).
“This citrus seedling planting is a collaboration between the student community service team of the Ngemplak unit and the Sleman Regency Government, including the Environment Office, the Agriculture Office, and the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan in Sleman,” said Mikhael Davis.
In addition to creating green open spaces, Davis hopes that planting citrus seedlings can revitalize the identity of Kalijeruk II Hamlet. It is expected that Kalijeruk II can be developed into a tourist village.
The event was attended by representatives from the Sleman Regency Government, including Head of the Environmental Control Division Eni Yuliani, Head of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan Sleman Wahyu Triyasno, Andrian Noviandi representing the Ngemplak District, and Kogam Maliki representing the Widodomartani Village.
The hosts of Kalijeruk II, represented by its head, Tri Handoko, and other heads in the neighborhood were present at the event. Dr. Rarastoeti Pratiwi, the field supervisor of the Ngemplak unit, also participated.
Dr. Pratiwi hopes that this program can contribute to greening efforts, with the fruits benefiting residents for personal consumption and enhancing the economic well-being of families in Kalijeruk II.
Additionally, she explained that the root systems of citrus trees can help retain groundwater, thus aiding in preserving rivers and water sources in the Kalijeruk II area.
Author: Agung Nugroho