UNS — Students and alumni of Faculty of Agriculture (FP) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta initiated #SatuHariJadiPetani (#OneDayAsFarmer) program under a collaboration with Agrowakaf, Studio Tani, and SocioFarm. The program was conducted in Berjo Village, Ngargoyoso Subdistrict, Karangnyar District, on Sunday (26/9/2021).
Wahyu Budi, as Berjo Village Secretary and alumnus of FP UNS, mentioned in his opening remark that this program aims to increase awareness of farmers’ works by commemorating National Farmer Day on 24 September. Wahyu also introduced Salman Dzulfikar as the founder of SocioFarm and Ardi Wardianto as the founder of Agrowakaf; both are UNS students.
Under a strict health protocol, the event was attended by 80 people who received training on organic fertilizer production from household wastes and how to apply the fertilizer in the polybag. Before practicing what they learned, Ir. Joko Sutrisno, as the speaker, suggested the participants move into organic products.
“We have consumed a large number of chemical products in our foods; it is time (for us) to go back to organic products,” Ir. Joko explained.
Even though the weather was cloudy and drizzling, participants were not discouraged from learning about cultivation and harvest and felt how farmers live. Participants also had an opportunity to cultivate using two methods, using the polybag method and directly on the ground. The coordinator prepared lentils, chili, eggplant, and mustard seeds for the program.
Participants also received a coupon to purchase from a ready-to-harvest field from the coordinator. They got a turn to visit tomato, chili, lentils, and mustard fields and were asked to help farmers’ jobs to harvest the plants. Participants also experienced ‘ngirim’, traditional catering provided for farmers. This program was concluded with a mancakrida. Humas UNS
Reporter: Zalfaa Azalia Pursita
Editor: Dwi Hastuti