Encouraging Agricultural Productivity in Limited Land Areas, FMIPA UI Offers an Alternative Growing Medium Solution Based on Coconut Husk

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at Universitas Indonesia carried out a community service activity in Dukuh Subdistrict, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta on Saturday, November 27, 2021.

Through the COCOGROW program, the FMIPA UI community service team introduced an alternative growing medium made from coconut husk waste to increase agricultural productivity while also reducing the amount of coconut husk waste in the area.

This activity was carried out in collaboration with the Pandu Cendekia Foundation and local farming community groups in Dukuh Subdistrict. It was also supported by the Directorate of Community Engagement and Empowerment at Universitas Indonesia (DPPM UI).

Dr. Retno Lestari, M.Sc., as the head of the program team, stated that this activity is focused on introducing cocopeat as coconut husk waste that has many benefits in the agricultural sector.

“The use of this growing medium also has the potential to reduce the amount of coconut waste in Dukuh Subdistrict and its surrounding areas,” said Dr. Retno.

Furthermore, Dr. Retno explained the reason the team chose Dukuh Village, Kramat Jati as the location for the program implementation. According to her, in this area there are many traders selling coconuts and their food.

Some coconut waste is usually used as cooking fuel by local housewives. However, most of it is just dumped until it piles up and causes a foul odor at the final disposal site.

The team started with outreach and education about cocopeat and other alternative planting media to overcome coconut waste and land limitations. The activity continued with practice and demonstration of making planting media with the right composition standards to ensure media nutrition.

To the participants who have actively participated, the team provided a number of basic necessities as appreciation and gratitude.

The community in Dukuh sub-district welcomed the program. One of the residents who is a farmer, Dahlia, said that this activity was quite helpful for her and her fellow farmers, especially those who often farm on limited land, so that the Cocogrow program could be an ideal solution for farming on limited land.

"This activity is very helpful for us as a community that likes to farm in limited land. The practices carried out also make us immediately understand and comprehend, so we can do it ourselves at home," said Dahlia.

"Thank you FMIPA UI, this has a good impact, hopefully in the coming year there will be similar programs again with new innovations to develop this area to be even better," he continued.

News source : https://sci.ui.ac.id/