The Community Service Team from the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), implemented a Digital Literacy and Nile Tilapia Cultivation Assistance program for fish farmers in Kalurahan Tirtoadi, Kapanewon Mlati, Sleman Regency. This program runs for six months, from May to November 2024.
The activity was led by Mgs. Muhammad Prima P., M.Sc., Ph.D., a lecturer at Faperta UGM, with support from eight lecturers from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Social Sciences and the Department of Fisheries, along with undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from the Faculty of Agriculture.
The team leader, Dr. Muhammad Prima, explained that the goal of this program is to help farmers and local extension workers adapt to the digital era. This is important so that the cultivators can understand how to use gadgets and the internet to search for and filter agricultural information.
“Digital literacy is crucial to provide understanding of ethics and security in interacting in the online world, so they can wisely utilize technology to support agricultural and fisheries activities,” he explained.
Nile tilapia cultivation training becomes the main focus of this program. Participants will be taught how to make effective fish feed and choose the right feed to enhance cultivation results. Additionally, they will also learn about disease prevention in Nile tilapia to ensure the success of their fish farming business.
“We hope that this activity can enhance the technical skills of the cultivators, especially in making feed and preventing diseases in Nile tilapia to support the success of their business,” he added.
The program began with socialization with village officials, farmers, and local agricultural extension officers (PPL).
Next, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD), training, and direct assistance to the cultivators were conducted. To ensure the sustainability of the program, the community service team will also carry out periodic monitoring and evaluation.
Through this assistance, it is expected that the fish farming groups in Tirtoadi will better understand digital technology and increase their productivity in Nile tilapia cultivation. This program also serves as a concrete step by the Faculty of Agriculture UGM to empower the community and support sustainable fisheries development.
This activity reflects Faperta UGM’s commitment to providing real solutions to field challenges, both through technological innovation and strengthening community capacity, while also being a part of theFaperta UGM’s efforts to achieve the SDGs, including SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Author: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami