UNS — Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta students in Group 48 of Student Community Service Program (KKN) UNS implemented their program in Ngluwar Village, Ngluwar Sub-District, Magelang District. The main program implemented by the Group is Budikdamber on Sunday (22/8/2021) in two locations, the yard of Village Chief’s house in Babadan Hamlet and Asma binti Umais Orphanage in Gedog Hamlet. The program includes socialization, training, and youth empowerment.
Budikdamber is a shortened version of Budidaya Ikan dalam Ember (Fish Cultivation in Bucket). Catfish is selected as the cultivated fish because its seeds are easy to get. However, any fish can be cultivated using this method. The Group also conducted water spinach cultivation on plastic glass placed above the bucket.
Budikdamber program is proposed because of the high number of passive young people in Ngluwar Village. Susanti explained that the village has many young people but its youth organization, such as Karangtaruna, is not quite active. Therefore, the Group initiated the Budikdamber Program for Ngluwar youths to be mor productive and have more learning rooms. The program is also the follow-up of their three-days study in the village, which found that most Ngluwar villagers work as farmers. Therefore, it is pretty hard to find a pond to cultivate fish, and the Budikdamber program is appropriate. Catfish cultivation in the bucket is also rare in Ngluwar Village.
“Considering the current condition with the declining economy, Budikdamber is UNS community service program implementing community food resilience program to survive in difficult situations during the current Covid-19 pandemic,” Susanti, the representative from Group 48, explained.
Enthusiasm can be observed in the young people who attended the Budikdamber training implemented under strict health protocols despite the limited quota. The program also received positive responses from the orphanage children and Ngluwar Village Chief. To Group KKN UNS, Sunandar Widiyanto said that this program could increase villager’s knowledge.
“My thanks to KKN UNS for holding Budikdamber training in Babadan Hamlet. I had stated in the mujahadah with all the villagers that there will be a follow-up on the catfish Budikdamber and water spinach program,” Sunandar Widiyanto, Ngluwar Village Chief stated.
To the uns.ac.id team, Susanti shared her hope after the implementation of the Budikdamber Program. She and her team hope that Budikdamber training benefits Ngluwar youths. She also reminded that the local people could maintain and develop the Budikdamber to open business opportunities for them. Humas UNS
Reporter: Alinda Hardiantoro
Editor: Dwi Hastuti