The Agricultural Industrial Technology Student Association (Himatipa) of UGM’s Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM), in collaboration with alumni from the Agroritma community, organized a mentoring and empowerment program for farmers, particularly those cultivating crops on sandy coastal land in Karanganyar Hamlet, Bantul Regency, on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2024.
Supported by the Pertamina Foundation through the PFmuda 2024 Program, Agroritma introduced innovations under the Agroritma Integrated Seedling System (AGISS).
The initiative included discussions led by FTP lecturer Dr. Megita Ryanjani Tanuputri, focusing on strengthening the institutional capacity of the Pasir Makmur Farmer Group in Karanganyar Hamlet, Bantul Regency.
Chairina Indita, the AGISS Program Chair, explained that the program aims to foster solidarity among farmer group members and women farmer groups (KWT) while enhancing their organizational capacity.
During discussions, the farmers showcased a prototype of a processed product—packaged chili powder.
“This capacity-building activity is beneficial for participants. It inspires farmer group members and KWT not only to excel in farming but also to develop managerial skills and create value-added products with higher market potential,” Indita said in a statement to reporters on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
The interactive Q&A session revealed high enthusiasm, with participants asking questions about farmer group institutions, the application of segmenting, targeting, and positioning strategies for products like fried shallots, and agricultural product marketing.
Ana, a representative from KWT Subur Makmur, expressed appreciation for the program, noting its relevance and impact.
“The activities were enjoyable, the material was dense and valuable, and it’s crucial for the sustainability of agriculture here. We hope to effectively implement what we learned today in KWT Subur Makmur for the collective welfare of our members,” Ana stated.
Kayla Azzahra, a committee member and UGM student, shared her positive impressions of the program.
She emphasized the importance of support from various stakeholders and expressed hope that AGISS would become a concrete step toward advancing innovative and sustainable sandy land agriculture in the Sanden District.
“We hope the farmers’ enthusiasm remains strong so that the welfare of farmer groups and KWT can be realized,” she said.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang