UNS — The Independent Campus Learning Grant Team (MBKM) from Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, in 2023, organized a seminar on making compost from vegetable waste using Effective Microorganisms (EM4). The event took place with the participation of two farmer groups from Sumberejo Village, Ngablak Sub-district, Magelang Regency: Bumi Lestari and Ngesti Subur farmer groups, on Sunday (3/12/2023).

The initiative stemmed from observing the significant post-harvest waste left to rot and not effectively utilized, resulting in environmental pollution such as unpleasant odors and attracting many flies to the surroundings. Supported by farmers in Sumberejo Village, the majority of whom practice organic farming, the MBKM UNS Grant Team came up with the idea of utilizing this vegetable waste by conducting a seminar and training on compost making using EM4. The aim is for the seminar to provide solutions to these issues.

Muhammad Fadel Apandi, the Head of the MBKM UNS Grant Team, shared this idea with one of the agricultural extension officers from the Ngablak Sub-district Agricultural Extension Agency working in Sumberejo Village. The idea received a positive response, and the Agricultural Extension Agency agreed to be the speaker in the seminar and training on compost making. The event covered information on the importance of compost in agriculture and the composting process, including the preparation of tools and materials.

The compost-making training began with shredding the collected vegetable waste. The next step involved mixing water, sugar, and EM4 liquid in a ratio of 1:1:50, as explained in the earlier seminar. “The shredded vegetable waste is then placed in a plastic drum along with the previously prepared EM4 solution. The compost mix is sealed tightly and stored for two weeks to obtain ready-to-use compost,” Fadel explained, who is also a student in the Agribusiness Study Program at the Faculty of Agriculture, UNS.

At the end of the seminar and compost-making training, one of the farmers expressed a message that such activities should continue as they enhance farmers’ understanding of the importance of environmentally friendly vegetable waste management. Additionally, the MBKM UNS Grant Team donated plastic drums and EM4 liquid to each farmer group in Sumberejo Village to enable them to implement this activity independently in the future.

Ali Sunah, the Agricultural Extension Officer in Sumberejo Village, expressed his hope for the success of the event. He revealed that many students had previously engaged in community service or research in Sumberejo Village. “But this is the first time I have learned that there are UNS students engaged in community service and research in Sumberejo Village. Hopefully, after this community service and research activity concludes, Sumberejo Village will be chosen again for similar activities,” Ali Sunah said.

Through this seminar and training on making compost from vegetable waste, it is hoped to be the first step in encouraging farmers in Sumberejo Village to actively manage vegetable waste into compost sustainably. With the active involvement of farmers, this initiative can create a clean environment and promote sustainable agriculture. HUMAS UNS

Editor: Dwi Hastuti