Journal of Community Capacity Empowerment

Organic Farmer Field School (FFS) and the Implementation of Quality Control Systems in Sustainable Farming Practices

Mutiarra Ridyo Arum, Suswadi; Dewi Rahmawati Intan Permatasari; A. Peni — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:49:38 +0700

The market prospects and price stability of Javanese long pepper (Piper retrofractum Vahl) indicate that this commodity has the potential to generate profit and bolster the economy as a leading commodity in Wonogiri Regency, particularly in Paranggupito District. To capitalize on these opportunities, the produced yields must adhere to specific standards, notably organic certification. This community service initiative aimed to enhance farmers' technical proficiency in the production and implementation of organic fertilizers, as well as to improve their capacity in implementing quality control systems. The program was conducted in Gudangharjo Village, Paranggupito District, Wonogiri Regency, utilizing the Farmer Field School (FFS) methodology. The outcomes of this activity include: (1) An increase in farmers' knowledge regarding Javanese long pepper cultivation through the application of both solid and liquid organic fertilizer technologies. (2) The establishment of demonstration plots (demplots) to facilitate direct participation in organic cultivation practices aligned with organic Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). (3) The successful formulation of organic GAP Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by farmers, serving as a formal guideline for cultivation to ensure uniform and high-quality organic Javanese long pepper production.

Entrepreneurship Training in Home-Scale Jamu Production to Support Land Intensification and Agroindustry Development

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:49:54 +0700

Entrepreneurship training in home-scale herbal drink (jamu) production is an effort to enhance students’ competencies in business diversification and downstream processing of spice-based products. This activity was motivated by the low level of students’ knowledge and skills in utilizing oil palm plantation land for additional commodities and their limited ability to process agricultural products into value-added goods. This community service activity aimed to improve students’ knowledge, motivation, and entrepreneurial interest through jamu production training. The activity was conducted using an interactive lecture method by inviting a jamu MSME entrepreneur as the resource person and involved 50 students of the oil palm education program. The evaluation was carried out using pre- and post-training questionnaires and participant observation. The results showed an average increase of 44% in participants’ understanding of spice crop potential, jamu production processes, business opportunities, and entrepreneurial interest. In addition, 84% of participants expressed interest in independently producing jamu and 78% were interested in developing a jamu business. The activity also increased participants’ awareness of optimizing land use and developing agro-industry-based businesses. These findings indicate that practitioner-based training is effective in improving students’ entrepreneurial capacity and has strong potential to support the development of new sustainable herbal-based enterprises.

Empowering Coffee Farmers in Medalsari Village, Karawang through Environmentally Friendly Coffee Production

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:30:20 +0700

The Coffee Farmers Group in Medalsari Village, Karawang Regency, has great potential in robusta coffee cultivation, yet its economic contribution remains limited due to inadequate production facilities, traditional farming techniques, and the absence of product quality standards. This community service program aimed to empower farmers by improving management capacity and applying environmentally friendly and sustainable coffee production techniques. The implementation method included socialization, training, technology adoption, mentoring, evaluation, and program sustainability. Socialization was carried out using participatory approaches, while training combined technology transfer and hands-on practice. Introduced technologies included coffee huller machines, dryers, and roasting machines, as well as the application of organic fertilizers and mulches to reduce dependence on chemical inputs. The results showed a significant increase in farmers’ knowledge, with the average pre-test score of 61% rising to 92% in the post-test. Farmers also began implementing soil conservation practices, composting coffee husks, and using disease-resistant varieties. The program effectively improved production quality, strengthened farmer group capacity, and promoted sustainability through collaboration with the university. In conclusion, this program successfully enhanced farmers’ knowledge, skills, and adoption of eco-friendly technologies in robusta coffee production, thereby supporting the competitiveness of Karawang coffee in broader markets.

Increasing Farmer Group Capacity through Balanced Fertilization Education in Jaten District

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:42:24 +0700

The continuous use of inorganic fertilizers without proper balance in rice cultivation can degrade soil quality, increase production costs, and reduce the sustainability of agricultural systems. Therefore, education for farmer groups is needed to improve their understanding of balanced fertilization through the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers. This community service activity aimed to improve farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and interest in implementing a balanced fertilization system by using organic fertilizers, such as manure and leaf litter, as partial substitutes for inorganic fertilizers. The activity was carried out using an extension method, with a leaf litter fertilizer producer and an agricultural extension officer serving as resource persons. The evaluation was conducted through pre-test and post-test surveys, observation of farmers, and perception questionnaires involving 25 participants. The results showed an increase in farmers’ understanding of balanced fertilization concepts by 44%, an increase in knowledge of the benefits of organic fertilizers by 40%, and an increase in interest in implementing the system by 36%. In addition, most farmers showed positive attitudes toward reducing inorganic fertilizer use and utilizing organic fertilizers as more environmentally friendly and economical alternatives. This activity contributed to improving participants’ capacity as agents of change in implementing sustainable rice cultivation. Therefore, balanced fertilization education is an important step in supporting more efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable agricultural systems.

Training on Developing Marketing Strategies for Organic Green Onion (Allium fistulosum L.)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:15:33 +0700

Gedangan Village, located in Cepogo District, Boyolali Regency, is widely recognized as a producer of organic vegetables and has obtained Indonesian National Standard (SNI) certification for organic agriculture. The local community cultivates organic vegetables through farmer groups that receive direct guidance from the agricultural office, particularly the Utomo Jayan Farmer Group. Marketing strategy is a fundamental tool designed to achieve business objectives by developing sustainable competitive advantages. Therefore, the formulation of marketing strategies is essential for farmer groups. In this community service activity, the farmer group was trained to develop marketing strategies for organic vegetables using the SWOT method. Based on the results of the training and practical analysis of marketing strategies for organic Welsh onion in the Utomo Jayan Farmer Group, Gedangan Village, Cepogo District, Boyolali Regency, both the management and farmer representatives demonstrated an improved understanding of the importance of developing marketing strategies for organic vegetable products to ensure sustainable market growth. The participants were also able to conduct SWOT analysis to formulate marketing strategies for organic agricultural products, although further training is still required to enhance the managerial capacity of the farmer group.

River Cleaning as Environmental Education and ASEAN Academic Diplomacy: A Collaborative Community Engagement Practice between Tunas Pembangunan University, Surakarta and Sultan Idris Shah Polytechnic, Malaysia

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:16:27 +0700

Urban river management faces increasing challenges due to urbanization, domestic waste, and limited community participation. This study analyzes the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) River Cleaning program as a model of experiential environmental education and regional academic diplomacy within a collaboration between Universitas Tunas Pembangunan Surakarta and Sultan Idris Shah Polytechnic, Malaysia. A qualitative case study approach was employed using participatory observation, documentation, and participant reflections during activities conducted in Kali Anyar, Surakarta. Thematic analysis was applied to identify patterns of experiential learning, cross-cultural interaction, and institutional relationships. The findings reveal that the program provided concrete experiences that enabled students to connect technical concepts such as stormwater management and flood control with real urban river conditions. Field experiences also encouraged reflection on the relationship between community behavior, drainage systems, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, cross-national interactions fostered academic dialogue and expanded the role of academic visits into action-based collaborative engagement involving local communities. This study proposes a three-dimensional collaborative engagement model consisting of academic exchange, environmental action, and institutional diplomacy. The model demonstrates that community engagement can serve as an integrative platform for contextual learning, environmental action, and academic diplomacy in supporting sustainable development.