Chili Prices Soaring, IPB University Conducts Urban Farming Activity in Depok City
In the midst of soaring chili prices, Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University is organizing urban farming activities in the city of Depok. Besides chili, the cultivated vegetables include eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, Chinese kale, bok choy, and water spinach. The urban farming activities developed are based on the urban heat island phenomenon in collaboration with the Indonesian Berseru Association (PIB) and Rikolto Indonesia.
The urban farming techniques employed by experts from the Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University have distinctive features, such as environmentally friendly methods, zero pesticide use, and measurement of their impact on temperature at each location. The urban farming activity took place on Tuesday, 5/12.
The coordinator of the IPB University team, Dr Afra Makalew, mentioned that this urban farming model could be replicated in other areas due to its detailed planning, including soil analysis, landscaping, zero pesticide use, and the implementation of circular economy principles.
“The locations of the activities include former buildings, piles of broken bricks and tiles, which needed significant revamping to be suitable for planting. Planting techniques vary from cultivation in polybags to direct soil cultivation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof Suryo Wiyono stated that urban farming has great potential to provide healthy food for urban communities, improve the mental health of the population, and create environmental comfort.
“Urban farming also faces significant challenges, including limited land availability, water contamination, and the risk of agrochemical pollution. Therefore, it needs to be designed appropriately to be productive, profitable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable,” he explained.
He continued, saying that the community welcomed this activity very well, especially given the opportunity to harvest chili at a time when prices are high.
One of the participants in the urban farming activity in Depok, Uty Ute, said, “Alhamdulillah, the first harvest of tomatoes and chili yielded up to 4.5 kg. This moment is timely because chili prices are currently rising. This activity is also the first vegetable harvest in this apartment complex.”
Urban farming assistance was provided to 180 participants over a period of six months from April to December 2023. The activity concluded with training on Fruit Plants in Pots (Tabulampot) and post-harvest mango processing at the Kebun IPB Sukamantri in Bogor. (*/Lp) (IAAS/DSR)
