Lecturers of the Faculty of Agriculture (FP) through the Community Service Grant Program (PKM), in collaboration with village officials, agricultural extension workers, farmer groups, and students provide training to farmers in utilizing chicken manure as compost.
The head of the program, Dr. Ir. Cicik Udayana, M.Sc., explained that the purpose of this activity is to improve farmers’ skills in making compost from chicken manure using the Biowash Ecoboost+ bioactivator. Through this training, farmers are given an understanding of the benefits of compost in maintaining soil fertility and reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. Compost produced from chicken manure has a high nutrient content and is useful in improving soil structure.
“We are trying to collaborate with village officials, agricultural extension workers, and farmer groups to jointly socialize and conduct training. Together with KKN students, we also provide assistance, and are grateful that this activity has received a positive response.”
The training program that was held succeeded in attracting the attention of the Guyub Rukun farmer group in Gayam Village. The participants looked enthusiastic in participating in each training session, starting from the provision of materials to the practice of making chicken manure compost and its application to planting media.
With the use of chicken manure as compost and the use of mycorrhiza as a biofertilizer, it is hoped that the agricultural sector of Gayam Village can develop better, support productivity, and help farmers in realizing more sustainable agriculture.
Gayam Village, an area in Gurah District, Kediri Regency, East Java Province, is known to have extensive and fertile agricultural land. With the dominance of land in the form of rice fields and dry fields, Gayam Village has promising agricultural potential. In addition to commodities such as sugar cane, corn, and peanuts, the village is also known as a producer of various types of lowland vegetables, such as long beans, chilies, eggplants, angled luffa, beans, and cucumbers.
In addition to the agricultural sector, Gayam Village has a fairly large population of livestock farmers, especially cattle, goat, and chicken farmers. However, until now, livestock waste—especially chicken manure—has been left to pile up without being utilized. The pungent odor of this waste often causes discomfort for the surrounding community.
This activity is expected to provide new knowledge for farmers in improving the quality of land and agricultural products, especially horticultural crops through the application of chicken manure compost and mycorrhiza. (zma/UB PR/ Trans. Iir).
