Voicing Concern for the Environment, KKN-T Innovation Students Created the Potkobu Program
One of the community services was carried out by IPB University Innovation Thematic Community Service Program (KKN-T) students through the activity of utilizing waste as a medium for sowing herbs for herbs. The activity was carried out at the Kalensari Hamlet Hall, Kondangjajar Village, Cijulang District, Pangandaran, West Java.
This program collaborated with several local village communities, namely the Garbage Bees Bank Community, and was attended by various groups ranging from children, youth to members of the Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) in Kondangjajar Village.
“We made an innovation called Potkobu or Seasoning Communal Pot. This program includes dissemination of household waste and demonstrations of the use of waste and plastic waste in seeding herbs as economical seeding sites that can be recycled," said Johanes Twentano, village coordinator of KKN-T Inovasi.
He said Kondangjajar Village is one of the potential villages in utilizing household waste. This is evidenced by the existence of waste banks in every hamlet. In particular, the Bee Garbage Bank in Kalensari Hamlet is active every week in sorting waste and reselling waste that can still be used.
"However, the potential for utilizing waste has not maximized the agricultural potential in people's yards. Therefore, Potkobu is here to provide an economical and easy option for the community to utilize waste for household needs," said Johanes.
Potkobu socialization includes how to sort organic, inorganic, and toxic hazardous materials (B3) as basic knowledge of waste utilization. The demonstration involved sowing the seeds in the medium of roasted husks, manure, and soil with a ratio of 1:1:1. Seeds and seeds can then be planted using processed plastic waste so that they can be used as a seedling site.
Apart from conducting socialization and demonstrations, IPB University Innovation KKN-T students also distributed seeds that had grown so that they could become community springboards to start applying Potkobu in their daily activities.
"This program is expected to increase public awareness of the use of waste around it and provide knowledge about innovations that can be carried out regarding sowing 'home' plant seeds using used goods so that it can be carried out and practiced by all members of the community in their yards," hoped Johanes.
The Kondangjajar Village community showed high enthusiasm and enthusiasm during the event. Not only that, they also hope that similar activities can sustainably take place.
"Activities like this are needed, especially in providing information to the community on home farming activities and waste utilization," said Mukarom, Head of Kondangjajar Village.
"Thank you to IPB University Innovation KKN-T students. Activities like this are new knowledge for us because we are also not farmers who understand this kind of knowledge. Hopefully, the seeds provided can be put to good use," continued Sri Suwarsi, a PKK cadre member (*/R) (IAAS/SHY)
