Dani Abyan Adam, a student of Agricultural Extension and Communication at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), embarked on his Kuliah Kerja Nyata Pembelajaran Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (KKN-PPM) as a tangible form of active engagement with the community. His passion for education and empowerment became a strong foundation for his role as an agent of change within society.

During this KKN period, Adam joined Citta Bulukumba, a multidisciplinary team integrating various clusters of expertise with a collaborative spirit to address local issues through cross-sector approaches, under the guidance of Dr. Dwi Ertiningsih, S.Si., M.Si as the Field Supervisor (DPL).

The name “Citta Bulukumba” carries a deep meaning. In the local Bulukumba language, citta means “story” and “love.” It reflects the team’s mission to write stories of kindness and love through meaningful interactions, contributions, and sustainable programs in panrita lopi land, Bulukumba.

Adam’s KKN location was centered in Tanah Jaya Village, Kajang Subdistrict, Bulukumba Regency, an area consisting of five neighborhoods. This agro-maritime region holds immense potential, with its coastal resources, agricultural land, and strong local traditions making it a strategic site for community empowerment programs.

The local economy is primarily driven by fisheries, cocoa, and rice farming. However, challenges remain particularly in household waste management and underutilized home gardens. These issues formed the basis for Citta Bulukumba’s solution-driven and participatory work programs, focusing on three main areas: Food Security Strengthening, Tourism Development, and Circular Economy Implementation.

Within these priorities, Adam implemented five key programs through participatory approaches, involving community extension, demonstrations, and basic education. Coconut Husk Waste Utilization for Kokedama engaging youth and educating junior high school students to turn coconut waste into decorative kokedama, which has potential as a local tourism souvenir. Household Waste Management with Stacked Buckets as part of the interdisciplinary BERSERI program, introducing a simple composting system producing liquid fertilizer and compost, strengthening household-level circular economy practices. Brazilian Spinach (Bayam Brazil) Home Gardening as part of the SEHATI program for stunting prevention, in collaboration with the medical cluster’s health outreach. Brazilian spinach was chosen for its high nutritional value and ease of cultivation.

Beyond these core programs, Adam actively participated in the Kajang Grand Festival (Festival Raya Kajang), a collaborative event themed “Gelora Pangan Kajang” (Kajang’s Food Spirit), showcasing local products, KKN program outputs, free health check-ups, and community sports. The festival served as a rallying point for strengthening community synergy in building food independence.

KKN in Tanah Jaya was not merely a transfer of knowledge from students to the community it became a two-way learning process. The enthusiasm of Tanah Jaya residents in adopting new technologies and practices brought positive energy to the entire team. The warmth, cooperation, and openness of the community were key to the success of Citta Bulukumba’s programs.

Adam’s initiatives aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

In closing, Adam reflects that KKN is not just an academic program, but a transformative journey where knowledge meets humanity, and love for a place grows through interaction, service, and shared stories. Citta Bulukumba is more than just a team name it is a memory of love and stories rooted in the land of Bulukumba.

Authors: Dani Abyan Adam, Ghorizatu Shofra
Editor: Desi Utami
Photo: KKN-PPM UGM Citta Bulukumba 2025

The Kuliah Kerja Nyata–Pembelajaran Pengabdian Masyarakat (KKN-PPM) Bromo Bestari 2025, Period II, held in Wringinanom District from 20 June to 8 August 2025, concluded successfully and smoothly. During this period, the Bromo Bestari KKN-PPM team carried out several major programs that attracted significant public interest and offered fresh perspectives to the community.

One of the main programs was a socialization session titled “Introduction, Cultivation, and Utilization of Family Medicinal Plants (TOGA)”. The initiative was led by two students from the Faculty of Agriculture Otniel Thery (Agronomy 2022) and Nidaul Hasanah (Agronomy 2022) in collaboration with students from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Law, and Vocational School of Mechanical Engineering.

The program aimed to introduce TOGA as a potential commodity capable of boosting the local economy in Wringinanom while addressing common cultivation challenges. The program’s selection was based on observations and discussions with farmer group leaders from Besuki and Kunci hamlets, local PKK women’s organizations, and home-scale as well as field-scale growers.

As a result, Otniel and Nidaul proposed introducing Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza) and Mint Leaves (Mentha sp.) as promising TOGA commodities. They also addressed common issues such as irrigation and pest control. Further explanations were delivered by Marfa (Pharmacy 2022) on processing Temulawak and Mint into gummy candy, Fiqa (Law 2022) on marketing strategies via online platforms, and Danindra (Vocational School 2022) on installing a drip irrigation system to overcome drought problems.

Conducted through presentations and hands-on practice, the program successfully attracted participants’ enthusiasm. This was evident from the active discussions and direct engagement during the cultivation sessions for Temulawak and Mint.

“We’ve never cultivated mint before, so we were excited to learn about this new plant and how to propagate it using root-up techniques as well as its cultivation methods,” said Ismawati, a TOGA grower.

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Through this community service program, the students demonstrated their commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, and SDG 13: Climate Action.

Authors: Otniel Thery, Ghorizatu Shofra
Editor: Desi Utami

As part of the third-day agenda of the Summer Course on Sustainable Tropical Agriculture 2025 (SC-STA 2025), the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), invited participants to take part in a field learning activity at the Merapi coffee cultivation center in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region.

The activity was guided by Andrianto Ansari, S.T.P., M.Agr., Ph.D., and Dr. Priyaji Agung Pambudi, S.Pd., M.Si., who accompanied international participants from Singapore, Bangladesh, Gambia, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines. On this occasion, the participants explored sustainable tropical coffee cultivation practices in Cangkringan, Sleman. The robusta coffee grown in this area is not only a flagship local agricultural commodity but also plays a significant role in boosting the local economy.

Participants received comprehensive explanations on coffee cultivation techniques, from planting and maintenance to processing coffee beans into powder. They also learned about the role of Merapi coffee as an adaptive practice in response to climate change through waste utilization, as well as its function as a symbol of economic revival in disaster-prone areas by marketing products via marketplaces and nearby coffee shops.

“Merapi coffee is a real example of how local communities can manage coffee production from upstream to downstream by integrating waste utilization and marketing strategies,” explained Andrianto.

Beyond providing valuable field experience, this visit also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

By presenting sustainable tropical agriculture practices rooted in local wisdom, SC-STA 2025 strengthens Faperta UGM’s commitment to nurturing a global young generation that cares about the future of the world’s agroecological systems.

Authors: Agrit Kirana Bunda, Ghorizatu Shofra
Editor: Desi Utami