UNS — Almost two years, Indonesia is affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Various efforts were taken to prevent Covid-19 infection, including through increasing the immune system. Consumption of traditional beverages made from local spices is a way of increasing the body’s immune system. Using this knowledge, Group 363 of the Student Community Service Program (KKN) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta promoted the cultivation of family medicinal plants (Toga) in Banaran Village, Sambungmacan Sub-District, Sragen District.
Besides its use as the materials of traditional beverages, the Group was inspired to promote this program after seeing unused lands in people’s yards. To utilize these lands, they are agreed to help local people to cultivate Toga as a principle of life in the community to return to the nature. This effort is the focus of the group programs displaced to the region on 3 August 2021.
Led by Muhammad Arif Husni Mubarok, the team turned RT 31 and RT 32 as the Center for Toga cultivation by planting several types of Toga, such as ginger, aloe vera, Curcuma, turmeric, aromatic ginger, and lemongrass. Arif mentioned that some people are still indifferent towards their health amid the pandemic. “That’s their health awareness needs to be increased through planting Toga so that it can be utilized as healthy beverages to increase the immune system,” Arif added.
The Group of then people did not stop at planting Toga but also assist and guide the community in producing Liquid Organic Fertilizer (POC) to increase soil’s nutrition. Using their creativity, the team utilized vegetable wastes from houses and the traditional village market to make the POC. The production process started with collecting the wastes, mashed them to extract the juices, collected the juices in a 50 L bucket, then added rice washing and sugar water.
Under the supervision from Dr. Agr. Ir. Sigit Prastowo, the Group also added EM4 bio-activator into the mixture then filtered it before put it into jerry can with hosed lid. The hose aims to remove the gas produced from the process without adding air into the container. The final result of POC needs to be dissolved in water with a 100 ml to 1 L water ratio before being used in watering plants.
Campaigning Health Protocols
Another program from Group 363 is campaigning for the implementation of health protocols. The Group donated two washbasins and hand wash and made one set of handwashing tools, which is installed in Banaran Village Pos Kamling (Security Post). The Group also educates the community on the importance of vaccination that targeted adult and old people offline and online socialization for Karang Taruna members. They also distributed masks and hand sanitizer for the people. Group 363 programs received warm responses from the local community and were completed on Monday (30/8/2021) that marked the end of their KKN program. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
