UNS – The Student Creativity Program (PKM) team from the Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta has initiated a community service project to train the residents of Kemitir Hamlet, Bumirejo Village, Kebumen, in processing tofu wastewater. This program was developed in response to the environmental pollution caused by tofu wastewater that has affected Kemitir over the past two years.
The UNS team, called Sahabat Desa, is led by Firda Indah Ramadhani. Team members include Selfi Fitriana, Tarisa Nurul Dzakiya, Laelina Fithrotul ‘Iza, and Annisa Fauza Hidayah. Their community service program is titled “Sahabat Desa: Sustainable Solution from Tofu Wastewater to Liquid Organic Fertilizer for Kemitir Village, Kebumen.”
During their visit to Kemitir, Firda and her team found significant water and air pollution issues. Kemitir is home to several home-based tofu industries. Seven of these tofu industries discharge their wastewater into the river, resulting in contaminated water and unpleasant odors.
“Tofu wastewater actually contains nutrients needed by plants and can fertilize the soil. However, no innovations have been implemented in Kemitir to utilize it,” Firda explained to uns.ac.id on Thursday (18/7/2024).
This prompted the Sahabat Desa UNS team to develop a training program to turn tofu wastewater into liquid organic fertilizer. The initiative was carried out through workshops and hands-on training sessions.
The training consisted of three sessions: two focused on processing tofu wastewater into liquid organic fertilizer and one on packaging the produced fertilizer.
Rochyati, the Secretary of the Kemitir PKK (Family Welfare Movement), praised the UNS students’ program, noting its significant environmental benefits. Through this initiative, residents can convert tofu waste into fertilizer, leading to healthier plants and reduced river pollution.
“The UNS students have diligently and systematically provided their knowledge, from socialization to multiple training sessions, and finally to the packaging of the liquid organic fertilizer. We now understand how to produce and sell it. The knowledge imparted by UNS students has been very beneficial to us in Kemitir,” Rochyati said.
With the conclusion of the training, the UNS PKM PM team is optimistic that this initiative will bring positive changes in tofu wastewater management in Kemitir. They hope that this best practice will be adopted more widely. This program aims to help reduce environmental pollution and improve the quality of the living environment for the people of Kemitir.
Humas UNS
Reporter: R. P. Adji
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
