UNS — Proud achievement was again brought home by Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta students after winning the Technology-based Agrotourism Grand Design Competition held by Commission B of House of Representatives (DPRD) Central Java. These students are Khanif Irsyad Fahmi from Agricultural Extension & Communication Program (PKP), Mohammad Rheza Hendriwinata from Agribusiness Program, Rifqi Muhammad Rizqullah from Architectural Engineering Program, Zahrotussa’adah from Architectural Engineering Program, Zharfa Hafizhotul Qonita from Architectural Engineering Program, and Umar Abdul Karim from Civil Engineering Program.
The team won over their competitors and brought the 1st place prize home. Khanif, the team leader, explained that they proposed the Joglo Kahuripan agrotourism concept. Their proposal is an agrotourism concept based on agricultural education that offers a ‘back to nature’ concept for the visitors through its integrated agriculture.
“Melon, fish, and maggot cultivation as the representative of life. We combined (the concept) with the local wisdom of Central Java culture, which is threatened with extinction,” Khanif explained to the uns.ac.id team on Friday (4/2/2021).
Khanif and the team consider the presence of agrotourism in the community is greatly needed to provide comprehension on the importance of the agricultural sector in the community while maintaining the high community interests toward the tourism sector. In Joglo Kahuripan, the offered agrotourism concept that introduces the plant cultivation process from the seedlings to harvesting.
Regarding the name of Joglo Kahuripan, Khanif explained that the name was selected because it could represent the agrotourism concept that the proposed. Joglo is the name of Central Java traditional house, while “kahuripan” means life. Thus, together the name means the center of life. Khanif stated in the interview that the team was delighted with their achievement.
“(We are) delighted because I have not participated in a competition for a long time. I could also collaborate with the fellows from engineering faculty,” Khanif explained.
To achieve their win, the group was challenged to combine the ideas from students from different disciplines and visualize their final idea. At the end of the interview, Khanif shared the importance of collaboration. “We do not need to be a specialist to be beneficial in a certain field. We could collaborate to create benefits. Collaboration is what we need,” Khanif stated. Humas UNS
Reporter: Zalfaa Azalia Pursita
Editor: Dwi Hastuti