Makassar, October 2024 – A community service program involving the Alamanda Women Farmers Group (KWT) in Paccerakkang Village, Makassar, has successfully improved the quality of melon cultivation through the use of Biochar and Trichoderma technologies. The program is an initiative of the Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, with the aim of introducing sustainable farming techniques to local farmers.
In this activity, 20 members of KWT Alamanda received intensive counseling and training on the use of Biochar and Trichoderma. Biochar, which is derived from agricultural residues processed through pyrolysis, is proven to improve soil fertility and nutrient uptake efficiency of plants. Meanwhile, Trichoderma, a microorganism that functions as a biofungicide and plant growth stimulator, helps to increase the melon’s resistance to pathogens and improve yield quality.
During the mentoring, farmers were actively involved in all stages of cultivation, from land preparation, Biochar making, Trichoderma inoculation, to harvesting. Evaluation results showed a significant increase in KWT members’ knowledge and skills, with post-test results recording a 25% increase compared to the pre-test. In addition, the melon harvest showed improved quality, with fruit sugar levels reaching 10° brix, close to ideal market standards.
The Chairperson of KWT Alamanda, Hj. Rugayah, stated that this program provides great benefits for local farmers in improving their agricultural yields. “We hope this method can be widely and sustainably applied to support a more environmentally friendly and profitable agriculture for smallholder farmers,” she said.
This activity also received support from the Paccerakkang Village Head and academics from the Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University. The success of this program is the first step in optimizing the use of vacant land in urban areas to improve food security and the welfare of smallholder farmers.
