Antonius Bagas Westranto, a 2022 student of the Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), together with the “Citta Bulukumba” KKN-PPM team, conducted a training program on processing coconut waste into economically valuable derivative products namely cocopeat and cocofibre. The activity took place on 12 July 2025, in Balang Pangi 1 Hamlet, Pantama Village, Kajang District, Bulukumba Regency.
This training program was part of the team’s efforts to address a local challenge: the abundance of unutilized coconut waste. Coconut husks often considered leftover harvest waste and simply burned actually hold high economic potential. Through simple processing, they can be transformed into cocopeat, an eco-friendly planting medium, and cocofibre, a raw material for household products such as doormats and brooms. Around 25 local residents, mostly housewives and youth, took part in the activity not only as participants but also as active practitioners in the processing steps.
The program began with an educational presentation on the importance of organic waste management and its environmental impact, followed by hands-on sessions covering coconut fiber separation, manual shredding, sieving, and drying. The main challenge faced during the activity was cloudy weather, which slowed the drying process for cocopeat. However, this was overcome by moving the process to a sheltered area provided by the village government.
“Through this training, we aim to raise awareness that waste can become a source of additional income if managed properly. We hope that, in the future, residents can develop derivative products independently and sustainably,” said Antonius Bagas Westranto, the activity coordinator.
The residents showed great enthusiasm, with some even bringing coconut husks from home to be processed on-site. The village government gave full support by providing the venue, equipment, and logistical assistance to ensure the program ran smoothly.
“This kind of activity is very helpful for us. Previously, we would just throw away or burn the coconut husks. Now, we know how to process them and even sell them,” said Mr. Sam, Head of Balang Pangi 1 Hamlet.
Through a participatory and demonstrative approach, the training is expected to be the first step toward establishing community-based businesses utilizing coconut waste. The KKN team also opened opportunities for follow-up technical assistance and the development of small-scale home-based enterprises. Ultimately, the activity proves that education and collaboration are key to unlocking local potential. The “Citta Bulukumba” KKN team hopes this program will not be a one-time initiative, but rather evolve into a sustainable collective movement for a cleaner environment and more self-reliant community economy.
Beyond its educational and technical aspects, the program also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, by creating business opportunities based on local resources, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, through community-based waste management, and SDG 13: Climate Action, by reducing waste burning and its resulting carbon emissions.
Author: Antonius Bagas Westranto, Ghorizatu Shofra
Editor: Desi Utami