IPB University Holds Urban Farming Training for 50 Households in Rempang Eco City
IPB University, through the IPB University Patriot Expedition Team (TEP), held a training program on the development of vegetable-based urban farming for 50 households in the Rempang Eco City (REC) Transmigration Area, Barelang, Riau Islands (9/5–6).
The activity, part of the 2026 Patriot Expedition carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Transmigration, took place at the Demonstration House in Block H7-04, Rempang Eco City.
The training was themed “Training and Demonstration on the Development of Vegetable Urban Farming for Food Security, Provision of Nutritional Sources, and Increased Family Income.”
The program featured presentations, demonstrations, and hands on practice covering planting media preparation, the use of fertilizers and organic materials, compost production, and vegetable cultivation in polybags.
Chairman of TEP IPB University, Dr Endang Gunawan, said the activity was designed to ensure that participants not only gain knowledge but also acquire practical skills that can be applied in their home environments.
This approach was implemented through a session delivered by Surapati, SP. Participants were introduced to basic urban farming techniques utilizing the land surrounding their homes. The session continued with discussions on land conditions, plant requirements, production inputs, and plant maintenance.
After the presentation, participants practiced preparing planting media using topsoil, manure, compost, dolomite, and coconut shell charcoal. They were also introduced to the use of NPK fertilizer and urea, as well as the processing of organic materials into compost.
“To support the implementation of the training outcomes, each household received an urban farming package consisting of polybags, NPK fertilizer, urea, dolomite, topsoil, manure, coconut shell charcoal, as well as seeds of lettuce, caisin, pak choi, spinach, water spinach, white bird’s eye chili, Thai eggplant, and tomatoes,” said Dr Endang.
The series of activities was also supported by drone based monitoring of the surrounding area to obtain an overview of available space that could support household scale agricultural activities.
Special Staff (Ad hoc) for the Development of the REC Transmigration Area, Colonel CPM Yudo Pramono, SE, SH, CHRMP, said that area development needs to be supported by activities that provide direct benefits to the community. According to him, urban farming can be developed by utilizing available space within residential areas.
Sembulang Village Chief Zainal, SIP, also expressed his support for the initiative and emphasized the importance of community involvement so that the knowledge and resources provided could be sustained independently in each household.
Through the training, IPB University encouraged residents to utilize available space to produce food, meet their families’ nutritional needs, and sustainably develop opportunities for additional household income. (*/Rz) (IAAS/CAA)
