Srimulyo Village, located in Dampit District, Malang Regency, East Java, is facing serious challenges due to the fertilizer crisis that threatens their coffee production. The village, which is known for its coffee and banana plantation potential, is one of the main suppliers of Robusta coffee for the domestic and export markets, including to Europe. However, the current global recession has caused fertilizer prices to skyrocket, which has a direct impact on the production costs of coffee farmers.
As an initial step, farmers in Srimulyo Village have tried to overcome this problem by producing their own organic fertilizer. Unfortunately, limited technology and human resources (HR) mean that organic fertilizer production is still very limited and far from sufficient for their needs. Raw materials, such as animal waste, which should be utilized, are often left to rot naturally before finally being used as manure, making the process inefficient.
Therefore, the Community Service Team led by Dr. Ir. Setyono Yudo Tyasmoro, MS., together with other team members such as Prof. Dr. Luchman Hakim, S.Si.,
M.Agr.Sc., Ph.D., Adi Setiawan, SP., MP., Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Ir. Widowati, MP., and Jacobus Wiwin Kuswinardi, S.T., S.Kom., M.Kom., carried out technological innovation to accelerate the production of organic fertilizers as well as the development of production and marketing in the village.
The activities included in the Technology and Innovation Dissemination Program for the 2024 Fiscal Year from the Directorate of Research, Technology and Community Service, Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology, Ministry of Education and Culture, are in collaboration with the Directorate of Research, Community Service, Universitas Brawijaya.
This activity involved the Tunas Baru Farmers Group (Poktan) and received support from the village government. UB Community Service Team provided assistance in making productive organic fertilizer using proven methods.
Dr.Ir. Setyono Yudo Tyasmoro, MS. has a simple patent for making organic fertilizer that has been tested in Kucur Village coffee farmer group, Dau District, Malang Regency and is able to produce solid organic fertilizer quickly and meets the SNI 7763-2018 standard.
The method used by Setyono Yudo is making organic fertilizer by utilizing a microbial consortium to accelerate the decomposition process. In principle, all organic materials can be decomposed by certain microbes so that they turn into organic fertilizer.
In a meeting with the farmer group, Dr.Ir. Setyono Yudo Tyasmoro, MS emphasized the importance of using innovation to increase efficiency in organic fertilizer production. This can involve the use of machines and equipment that accelerate the process of decomposing organic materials into productive organic fertilizers that meet SNI 7763-2018 standards.
“Hopefully, by providing training to the community on how to make effective organic fertilizers, as well as how to use them for optimal agricultural results, it will be the key to increasing agricultural productivity and local economic welfare”
“Don’t forget, if production is sufficient, we will develop it through an effective marketing strategy for organic fertilizers, including creating a good distribution network, product branding, and marketing that utilizes digital technology,” said Yudo.
Not only assistance in making fertilizers, the team also provides assistance in the form of supporting equipment such as fertilizer material crushers, bokashi fermentation places, and fertilizer grading machines. In addition, they also assist in product management and marketing by providing fertilizer packaging machines, as well as assisting in the licensing process and making good packaging bags.
It is hoped that through this program, the community and farmer groups in Srimulyo Village can not only meet their own fertilizer needs, but also increase their income through organic fertilizer production. This innovation is expected to provide a long-term solution to the fertilizer problem in the area and support food security by improving the quality of coffee production. (zma/OKY/UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
