Supporting Sustainable Ecotourism Villages in Gambuhan Pelamang, DPMA IPB University Assists Avocado Farmers
The Directorate of Agromaritime Community Development (DPMA) at IPB University provided technical assistance on top working for avocados as part of efforts to expand the implementation of Sustainable Ecotourism Villages in Gambuhan Village, Pulosari District, Pemalang Regency, Central Java (11/12–14).
Gambuhan Village is one of the target locations for the Astra Prosperous Village program. This village has eight hectares of agricultural land that is used for horticultural commodity cultivation. There is also a community garden area that has great potential to be developed into an educational space, agrotourism site, and integrated agriculture demonstration site.
The DPMA team conducted direct observations of a number of potential locations, including agricultural land and several sites proposed as ecotourism development areas. From these observations, the team identified strategic opportunities in the horticulture sector, particularly avocados.
“There are many avocado trees scattered in yards and community gardens. However, most of them are old and show a decline in productivity. This condition opens up room for scientific intervention through plant rejuvenation techniques,” said Dian Rahma, representative of the DPMA IPB University team.
Top working is a technique of re-grafting non-productive avocado tree trunks to increase yield potential. In this activity, grafts from two superior varieties were used, namely Miki avocado and Red Vietnam, which are known for their premium fruit quality, larger size, and high productivity.
The assistance was provided by a team of experts involving representatives of farmer groups, village officials, and communities who want to develop horticultural commodities.
Dian Rahma, who is also in charge of the avocado commodity development program at DPMA IPB University, explained that this activity is part of a long-term strategy to strengthen community capacity through an applicable scientific approach.
“Technical assistance in top working is the first step to increase the productivity of plants that previously had low yields. We hope that the community can apply this technique independently and make it part of local agricultural innovation,” said Dian during the discussion.
Furthermore, DPMA IPB University assessed that Gambuhan Village has the potential to become a model for sustainable agriculture-based ecotourism development. The combination of the natural beauty of Bukit Kukusan, the potential for agrotourism in community gardens, and opportunities for developing superior horticultural commodities can serve as the main foundation for designing an integrated village tourism model.
Sudrajat, Chief of Gambuhan Village, expressed his appreciation for the exploratory initiative, considering that his village has long had a lot of potential that has not received long-term assistance.
“Gambuhan Village has very rich natural and agricultural potential. However, until now, there has been no truly sustainable assistance program. The presence of DPMA IPB is a new hope for us to develop the village in a more integrated and measurable manner,” he said.
He reiterated his optimism about the collaboration plan. “We hope the partnership with DPMA IPB can be long-term and bring tangible benefits to the community. This program is expected to create new business opportunities, increase farmers’ income, and make our village more advanced and self-reliant.” (*/Rz) (IAAS/KQA)
