UNS — Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta send out a research team to study the karst area in Gunungkidul District, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). This research was initiated under a humanitarian scheme launched by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) of the Republic of Indonesia (RI). This project also supports the implementation of Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program in UNS.
Led by Dr. Ernoiz Antriyandarti, the team involved eight students from the Agribusiness Program Faculty of Agriculture (FP) and one Master Student in Agribusiness Postgraduate Program UNS. The research team consisted of Agustono, M.Si, ecology expert from FP UNS, and Dr. Hijrah Saputra, earthquake and geophysics expert from Universitas Airlangga (Unair). The team also collaborated with the Red Cross of Indonesia (PMI) Kapanewon Girisubo, Gunungkidul, and was supported by Kapanewon Girisubo Subdistrict as the center for the humanitarian research program.
The research focuses on water scarcity in the karst area because this issue affects agricultural and animal husbandry sectors in the region. Gunugkidul region is also included in natural disaster vulnerable areas. The research team identified the needed intervention, strategy, engineering, and breakthrough to solve various levels of vulnerabilities in the area while strengthening the community’s resilience. These steps should not set aside the sustainability of the ecosystem and social ecology in rural development. The fragile karst area also needs careful management to prevent environmental damage.
The Humanitarian Research Project has several objectives. First, implementing a drip irrigation system to solve drought in farming lands. The other objectives of the study are mapping areas vulnerable to drought and earthquake, preparing drought and earthquake mitigation framework, providing assistance and education on disaster mitigation, and formulating policy recommendations for drought and earthquake disasters under cultural, spatial, and ecological approaches. UNS students took a role in preparing supporting programs and coordinating with the community partners. Therefore, this program also prepared students to be leading researchers.
“This program opened our perception on regional development, especially in dry farming land that will be implemented by Kapanewon Girisubo and how to mitigate drought and earthquake,” Rifa’i, a student member, stated on Wednesday (16/2/2022).
Rochen, another student member, admitted that they received direct experience in analyzing precipitation levels in the region. “Precipitation is the key factor in the hydrology cycle in a watershed. Precipitation requires certain pre-condition from climate data covered in climatology. Management of water sources requires hydrology data and information,” Rochen added. Humas UNS
Reporter: Rangga Pangestu Adji
Editor: Dwi Hastuti