ITB Student Collaboration Introduces Organic Waste Processing Technology to the Community of Cupunagara Village
By Iko Sutrisko Prakasa Lay - Mahasiswa Matematika, 2021
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
SUBANG, itb.ac.id – The Biology Student Association “Nymphaea” of ITB, in collaboration with the Microbiology Student Association “Archaea” of ITB and the social community Gebrak Indonesia, held a training session on the production of liquid organic fertilizer and eco-enzyme for residents of Cupunagara Village, Cisalak District, Subang Regency, on Saturday (February 22, 2025). This community service activity serves as a commitment to fulfilling the university's tri dharma by promoting education and direct community empowerment in rural areas.
Cupunagara Village was chosen because it is known as an agrarian village, with the majority of its residents relying on agriculture for their livelihoods. However, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and the suboptimal management of household organic waste pose significant challenges to achieving sustainable agriculture. Through this event, the students aim to introduce simple technologies that can have a substantial impact in transforming household waste into useful agricultural products, such as liquid organic fertilizer and eco-enzyme.
As part of this community service event, a training workshop was conducted that involved the active participation of residents. The workshop began with an educational session on organic waste management and its benefits, followed by hands-on practice. In this practical session, residents were trained to produce liquid organic fertilizer using simple, readily accessible materials, such as bamboo shoots, coconut water, palm sugar, and Effective Microorganisms 4 (EM4) solution. Additionally, a training session was held on how to make eco-enzyme from fruit and vegetable scraps through a fermentation process designed to be applicable at the household level.
Community participation in this activity was very high, as seen from the enthusiasm shown throughout the sessions. Participants were not only attentive during the presentations but also actively engaged in trying out the fermentation processes demonstrated by the students. This hands-on approach was deliberately chosen to ensure that the community could directly understand and independently apply the techniques after the activity concluded.
Additionally, this event served as a learning platform for ITB students to apply the knowledge gained in their coursework to real-world field contexts. In the long term, the program is designed as part of the development initiative for the assisted village by the Biology Student Association “Nymphaea” ITB. Through the active involvement of residents in hands-on practice, it is hoped that organic waste processing can be continued independently and even developed into a micro-enterprise based on environmentally friendly products. Follow-up assistance and regular monitoring are planned to ensure the program’s success and sustainability.
Reporter: Iko Sutrisko Prakasa Lay (Mathematics, 2021)
Translator: Mikayla Caesari Azalia (Management, 2024)
