Universitas Brawijaya (UB) Matching Fund Team conducts sharing and workshop activities in an effort to improve operational efficiency in the use of rice milling units (RMU) and the quality of rice produced by the Association of Farmers Groups (Gapoktan) Rukun Sentosa, Blitar Regency. This activity takes place from July to December 2022.
Led by the Chair of the Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Karuniawan Puji Wicaksono, SP., MP., Ph.D, the team collaborated with Agriculture and Food Service of Blitar Regency. This activity was guided by Darmanto, S.T, M., a lecturer at the Department of Biosystem Engineering, FTP UB with expertise in the Mechanics of Materials.
Karuniawan Puji Wicaksono said, Rukun Sentosa farmer group had started producing rice since early 2022 with milling activities. However, these rice production activities have not been effective in the use of rice milling units and there is no quality/quality certificate for the rice produced.
Based on this problem, Universitas Brawijaya Matching Fund team conducted training/workshops for the group members with materials on post-harvest handling of rice, workshops on procedures for operating rice milling equipment using rice milling units and warehousing, as well as assistance and registration of quality and nutrition tests of the rice produced.
Rukun Sentosa Farmer Group has production and market potential that can be increased in rice sales. The rice produced from the Rukun Sentosa farmer group has the characteristics of “pera” rice or rice that has a high amylose content.
Gapoktan rukun sentosa has a fairly high demand for rice products. With markets and products that can compete in the market, it is necessary to carry out operational efficiency in the use of rice milling units and the quality of the rice produced.
“So far the rice produced by Rukun Sentosa Farmer Group has not been tested for both quality and nutrition,” said Karuniawan.
Post-harvest rice handling and storage training was guided by La Choviya Hawa, STP., MP, Ph.D, a lecturer at the Department of Biosystem Engineering, FTP UB with expertise in food engineering and post-harvest handling techniques, especially in the areas of drying, storage and cooling of agricultural products.
Training on the procedure for operating a rice milling tool using a rice milling unit (RMU) guided by Dr.Ir. Ary Mustofa Ahmad, MP., lecturer at the Department of Biosystem Engineering, FTP UB with expertise in agricultural engineering, soil tillage, agroecotechnology.
This training activity was carried out with material presentation sessions and sharing between the presenters and the members of Rukun Sentosa farmer group. The expected results are the group members understand the standard operating procedures for the rice milling process with the RMU and understand the quality standards for the rice produced.
The results of Rukun Sentosa group rice quality test were included in the premium rice category for the production of white rice varieties INPARI32, CIHERANG and 1:1 mixed varieties. [Darmanto/Irene/Humas UB/Trans. Iir]
