Saturday, 5 July 2025 marked an important moment for the Gunung Gambar area, one of the assisted sites of Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Faculty of Agriculture (Faperta UGM). On that day, a robusta coffee harvest festival was held, attended by local farmers, the Ngawen Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), UGM’s Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) students, the academic community of the Faculty of Agriculture, village officials, and the Regent of Gunungkidul, Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih. This harvest produced a total of 30 kilograms of robusta coffee.
In her remarks, the Regent of Gunungkidul, Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih, emphasized the importance of diversifying tourism potential in the region, one of which is through the development of coffee tourism in Gunung Gambar.
“Gunung Gambar must have differentiation, not only as a religious tourism destination, but also with a new image as a coffee tourism area. This region has great potential for coffee-based tourism, where coffee can be processed into practical and long-lasting instant products, as well as through establishing cafés that will become new attractions for visitors. Let us develop this together, from zero to hero, from nothing to something, through the collaboration of the community, the university, and the government,” said the Regent of Gunungkidul.
She also underlined the importance of fostering innovation and encouraging practical applications from universities, particularly the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, to ensure that the development of this area continues and provides tangible benefits for the community.
The collaboration in developing Gunung Gambar through research, education, and community empowerment is not new to Faperta UGM. Since 2018, the Department of Agronomy has initiated a conservative greening program in this area. This initiative was later continued in 2021 with the planting of thousands of robusta coffee seedlings on three hectares of land. With favorable agroclimatic conditions, coffee planted in Gunung Gambar can be harvested year-round, producing an average of one ton per year, and has already been marketed to various cafés across Gunungkidul.
One of the lecturers of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Ir. Supriyanta, M.P., expressed full support for the development of Gunung Gambar.
“We fully support the effort to develop the potential of Gunung Gambar. We are also committed to continuously building networks and communities to come here as part of tourism development. In essence, we are fully supporting Gunung Gambar and its coffee farmers,” emphasized Supriyanta.
The selection of Gunung Gambar as a program site cannot be separated from its ecological potential as well as its cultural and historical values. The area stands as a real example of synergy between the community, the university, and the government in realizing the principles of tridharma, particularly in community service. Through KKN-PPM, UGM agriculture students are actively involved in designing and implementing a coffee-based ecosystem development rooted in cooperation and local wisdom—from planning, cultivation, and management to product downstreaming.
This activity reflects the Faculty of Agriculture UGM’s commitment to ensuring the sustainability of community service programs. The initiative also aligns with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 15: Life on Land.
Authors: Agrit Kirana Bunda, Anin Dita Rahmadiyanti
Editor: Desi Utami