The community service team from the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, led by Dody Kastono, S.P., M.P., provided assistance to Millennial Farmers in Sleman on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, in Purwomartani, Kalasan, Sleman. The assistance activity included training on watermelon cultivation, pest and disease management, Bacillus production, and soil structure improvement, which can contribute to increased production. The training session was attended by 44 participants, consisting of the management and members of the Millennial Farmers of Sleman.
Dody, a lecturer from the Department of Agronomy at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, explained that the watermelon demonstration plot at Faculty of Agriculture UGM had shown a productivity rate of 30 tons per hectare, while the productivity of watermelon by farmers remained around 11-13 tons per hectare. In relation to this, Dody emphasized the importance of farmers maintaining discipline in following the standard operating procedures (SOP) for cultivation and applying appropriate technology to achieve optimal results.
“We hope that farmers will discipline themselves in following the SOP for watermelon cultivation so that watermelon production can be optimized,” Dody said.
One of the community service team members, Prof. Dr. Ir. Sri Nuryani Hidayah Utami, M.P., M.Sc., a professor in the field of Soil Science at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, also provided training on biochar, a carbon-rich solid material produced from the conversion of organic waste (agricultural biomass) through incomplete combustion or pyrolysis under limited oxygen conditions. Prof. Nuryani explained that biochar is not a fertilizer, but serves as a soil improver, meaning that soil fertilization is still necessary.
“The application of biochar will not only improve watermelon yields but also benefit other crops such as mustard, sweet corn, potatoes, cabbage, edamame, and shallots. Additionally, biochar can enhance the sweetness of edamame and the quercetin content in sambung nyawa plants,” Prof. Nuryani explained.
This community service activity by the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, focusing on watermelon cultivation, is part of a community empowerment initiative by PT Indomarco. Wibi Budi Laksono, Manager of Microeconomics Region 2 for Indomaret, expressed his hope that farmers will remain enthusiastic in cultivating watermelon and remain committed to cooperating with PT Indomarco. Wibi also added that this initiative has become a national model for the company.
Taufik Mawaddani, Chairman of the Millennial Farmers of Sleman, stated that with the decreasing availability of agricultural land, increasing productivity is essential. Therefore, the results of the community service and empowerment activities by the Faculty of Agriculture, are expected to raise farmers’ awareness of the importance of increasing both the quantity and quality of watermelon production.
The active involvement of the Faculty of Agriculture community service team is a tangible expression of their commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Author: Hanita Athasari Zain & Agrit kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami