Covid-19 pandemic affects various aspects of human life. The infection of this new type of coronavirus has spread not only to a few people in particular areas but also to populations worldwide.
Faculty of Agriculture UGM through community service program facilitated the community in cities, villages, and disadvantaged communities, including people with disabilities, scavengers, and hawkers affected by Covid-19. Their facilitations consisted of various activity packages, including the transfer of knowledge and technology, physical support, and technical assistance.
The aid packages were delivered simultaneously with the opening ceremony of the 74th Anniversary of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM on Tuesday (9/6). Those with special needs represented the groups who received the aid during the ceremony. Most community service programs partner with religious organizations such as the MPM PP Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta and Nahdatul Ulama Bantul.
Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Dr. Jamhari S.P., M.P., on this occasion, represented the need for synergy and concern from universities in improving food security during the Covid-19 pandemic through community empowerment activities. In this event, the Faculty of Agriculture UGM had carried out various kinds of service in multiple areas, both local and urban, as a form of concern for the people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic while increasing income for the community.
The event consisted of several programs, including the provision of hydroponic technology packages, catfish and vegetable aquaponic technology packages, non-waste yard technology utilization packages, and fish market logistics facilitation for fishing partner cooperatives, budikdamber package assistance (fish cultivation in buckets), and vegetable seed package assistance. In addition to those activities, there is also a full workshop by utilizing the faculty digital service facility called DesaApps.
The beneficiaries of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM’s service programs were farmer/cultivator groups, the public of rural and urban areas, farmer cooperative partners, and other community groups. Aside from providing aid, assistance activities were essential to ensure the success of the program.
Jamhari hoped the community service programs could support and maintain the rural and urban communities’ welfare, including those with special needs.
“There is great hope that the community’s enthusiasm to encourage urban farming can be sustained in the future even though the pandemic has ended”, said Jamhari.
Jamhari said that sustainable food needs and limited urban land become a background that can support citizens’ creativity and ability to be independent in food security through urban farming activities. Besides, appropriately applied technology can be a model or reference to be used in various regions. Therefore, it can fulfill the nutritional needs of the community, especially animal protein and vitamins.
