The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), in collaboration with PT Indomarco Prismatama (Indomaret) and Sleman Millennial Farmers, held a socialization event for the Community Economic Development and Empowerment Program on Wednesday, 8 January 2025. This event followed the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) which took place the day before at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM.
The event was held at the Hall of the Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries Office of Sleman Regency and attended by various stakeholders, including representatives from Indomaret, the UGM Faculty of Agriculture mentoring team, Sleman Agriculture Office officials, Bank Indonesia, and 60 members of the Sleman Millennial Farmers group.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Subejo, SP, M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, and Cooperation at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, highlighted the importance of a pentahelix collaboration. “Triple helix collaboration between government, universities, and society is no longer sufficient. We now need to expand this approach to a pentahelix by involving the private sector. If papaya production can be optimized to meet the demand of the Yogyakarta and Central Java regions, it will have a tremendous impact,” said Prof. Subejo.
This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration in California Papaya cultivation, with a target of creating 4.4 hectares of productive land capable of consistently supplying 8 tons of Grade A California Papaya per month to Yogyakarta and Central Java.
“The grading system for papayas is intended to maintain product quality and enhance customer satisfaction. Through this collaboration, Indomaret hopes to build a long-term partnership. This initiative is also part of Indomaret’s commitment to price stability and farmer welfare,” stated Feki Octavianus, Microeconomics Executive Director at PT Indomarco Prismatama.
Purwanto Wahyudi, Microeconomics Project Executive at Indomaret, shared insights from a successful previous project involving seedless watermelon, where Indomaret absorbed 5 tons per week from Sleman’s Millennial Farmers. He expressed optimism that the same enthusiasm and commitment could be brought into the California Papaya initiative, aiming for a consistent monthly supply of 8 tons.
“Our hope is that this program not only boosts agricultural production but also empowers local communities and helps address unemployment issues. We aim to form strong farmer groups capable of producing and supplying high-quality products consistently,” Purwanto stated.
UGM academic also contributed to the event by providing practical insights for farmers. Dody Kastono, S.P., M.P., discussed the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for cultivating California Papaya to ensure high-quality yields. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining fruit shape during transport to preserve quality. Meanwhile, Andi Syahid Muttaqin, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., shared perspectives on climate change-related challenges in agriculture. Using weather trend data, he explained the need to anticipate the effects of El Niño and La Niña in cultivation practices.
Farmers responded enthusiastically to the program. Taufik Mawaddani, a representative of Sleman Millennial Farmers, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, which was echoed by other farmers who showed interest in joining the program, especially with proper mentoring and support.
The event also received strong appreciation and support from local government officials. Ir. Suparmono, M.M., Head of the Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries Office of Sleman Regency, expressed his hopes for the collaboration. “With this cooperation between UGM and Indomaret, we hope Sleman’s Millennial Farmers can accelerate the growth of their agricultural businesses, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the agricultural sector in Sleman,” he said.
This initiative also supports the Faculty of Agriculture UGM’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Writer: Agrit Kirana Bunda, Ghorizatu Shofra
Editor: Desi Utami
Documentation: Andrianto Ansari