Malang - In an effort to increase awareness of land utilization around the house, Dr. Madziatul Churiyah and a team from the Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), State University of Malang held community service activities in Bandung Rejosari Village, Sukun District, Malang City. This activity has been going on for almost two years and has had a significant positive impact on the local community.
The activity, which was attended by students and lecturers, aims to educate the public about the importance of utilizing vacant land around the house to grow fruits and vegetables. This program is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 11 on sustainable cities and settlements, and SDGs number 12 on responsible consumption and production.
During the coaching session, Dr. Madziatul explained, "By utilizing the land around the house, people can not only meet their daily food needs, but also contribute to local food security. In addition, the program supports waste reduction and encourages more sustainable consumption patterns."
The local community has shown great enthusiasm for the program. Many residents have successfully grown various types of vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, chilies, mustard greens and eggplants, which not only enrich their diets, but also improve the family economy. Some participants also expressed their gratitude for the new knowledge gained during the activities, which encouraged them to be more independent in fulfilling their food needs.
One of the participants, Mrs. Gati, said, "Previously, we did not know how to utilize the empty land around the house. After joining this program, we can now grow our own vegetables and reduce our monthly shopping expenses."
This activity also includes training on environmentally friendly farming techniques, the use of organic fertilizers, and household waste management. Dr. Madziatul hopes that, in the future, this program can continue to grow and reach more communities, so that the goals of achieving the SDGs can be better realized.
With this community service program, it is hoped that Bandung Rejosari Village can become an example for other areas in implementing sustainable agriculture on residential land, as well as increasing awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability.