Community service in Kalipuro District, Banyuwangi, has been implemented through the Doctoral Service Programme by the Academic Community of Universitas Brawijaya (UB). The community service aims to increase public knowledge about the connection between plants and their environment.
The aspects are related to geographical conditions that form the basis for strengthening coffee products based on Geographical Indications, improving coffee processing methods by transferring and diffusion of coffee roasting technology to farmer groups, as well as providing education on geoinformation-based agricultural systems and agrotourism to young researchers who activity in Kalipuro District.
The implementation of the Doctoral Service Programme began with mapping coffee plantations in the Kalipuro area. This activity involved 12 UB Thematic KKN students. It was held from 11 July to 10 August 2022. This student activity was the beginning of good communication between students, lecturers, and the community.
The people involved include farmers, tourism awareness groups, and UB’s partners, namely Ijen GeoPark. Ijen GeoPark has a Geological Heritage Site (Geo-Site) and landscapes that have the value of Geological Heritage (Geo-Heritage), Geological Diversity (Geodiversity), Biodiversity, and Cultural Diversity (Cultural Diversity). Ijen GeoPark also managed conservation, education, and sustainable community economic development.
There were two pieces of training to be implemented for the Doctoral Service Programme in the Kalipuro District. They were Geoinformation Training and GPS Applications for the Development of Coffee and Agrotourism Mapping in the Ijen GeoPark Area, and Training on the Use of Coffee Roasting Machines which were attended by 20 young researchers and coffee activists on Saturday (8/13/2022).
The training related to mapping was delivered by Dr. Brian Rahardi, a lecturer of FMIPA UB, and Dwi Wahyu H., S.Si., from Ijen GeoPark. The coffee roasting training was delivered by M. Emir Yusuf who is a practitioner of Albirru Coffee and Eatery.
“We hope this service activity can increase the competence and economic capacity of the community,” said the Head of the Doctoral Service Programme, Dian Siswanto Ph.D., a lecturer at FMIPA UB.
Sahiruddin Ph.D., a lecturer of FCS UB, who is actively involved in this activity, added that community service activities try to solve real community problems (action programmes) such as the Doctoral Service Programme need to be carried out continuously so that society feels the positive impact. [dts]
