Implementation of the Sociotechnopreneurship Vision

UNPRI and ITSI Academic Community Promotes Organic Fertilizer Bank

The academic community of Universitas Prima Indonesia (UNPRI) together with the Indonesian Palm Oil Technology Institute (ITSI) collaborated in socializing the concept and practice of the Organic Fertilizer Bank (BPO) to farmers, including oil palm farmers. This activity was carried out for two days in Kandangan Village, Laut Tador District, Batubara Regency, North Sumatra Province.

This activity was led by lecturers from ITSI, namely Sakiah SP MP and Tuty Ningsih SP MP, and Dr. Bayu Pratomo SST MP from UNPRI. The goal is to increase farmers' knowledge about managing livestock waste into organic fertilizer that has economic value and is profitable for their agricultural land.

The Head of Kandangan Village, Suratmin, said that so far the local community has not understood how to manage livestock waste into organic fertilizer and tends to let piles of livestock manure be taken by anyone who comes.

Sakiah SP MP from ITSI expressed surprise when she learned that oil palm farmers in Kandangan Village were still complaining about the high price of fertilizer, even though they have resources in the form of livestock manure that can be processed into organic fertilizer through the Organic Fertilizer Bank (BPO). "This all happened because of limited knowledge and weak absorption of science and technology among the Kandangan Village community," said Sakiah. "This situation is the background for ITSI and UNPRI to hold socialization and training entitled livestock, kitchen, and agricultural waste management as an implementation of the circular economy of the Organic Fertilizer Bank," he added.

In the socialization, local farmers were equipped with knowledge about the benefits of organic fertilizer for soil health and fertility, as well as the positive impact of waste management on global warming. In addition, the organizers also provided assistance in the form of one unit of organic material shredding machine, one unit of compost sieve, and other important tools.

The next day, all of this equipment was used for direct practice in making liquid organic fertilizer (POC) and solid organic fertilizer (POP) from cow and goat manure. This process also involves the use of agricultural waste or ecoenzymes from fruits and vegetables, which function as decomposers in making POC and POP.

With this activity, UNPRI is committed to implementing the vision of sociotechnopreneurship, namely combining social, technological, and entrepreneurial aspects to provide real solutions for the community. Through this socialization and training, UNPRI plays an active role in helping farmers improve their welfare and create a more sustainable environment.

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