On Thursday (3/9), the Center of Agrotechnology Innovation (PIAT UGM) signed the cooperation agreement for the self-management activity of Gentan Village, Baki Sub-District, District Sukoharjo, Central Java Province which represented by Dr. Ir. Taryono, M.Sc., the chief of PIAT UGM, and Uke Fransiska, S.H., the village chief. The signing of this agreement was also attended by PIAT UGM Secretary, Baki Chief’s secretary, and other members of the government and the members of the village consultative (BPD). The village government of Gentan through the BPD, Didik Haryono who had contacted PIAT UGM since 8th July 2020. Then, it is continued with the visit of the village government representative to see the process of waste processing at the House of Recycled Innovation (Rindu) PIAT UGM. The discussions for waste recycle kept going on until met the agreement to collaborate with PIAT UGM to make Gentan Village as the self-management waste village’s pioneer in Sukoharjo District, Central Java.
Gentan Village, which is considered as the sub-urban area is inhabited by almost 10.000 lives, plenty of stores, restaurants, one traditional market, and one mall, has plenty potentially waste dump around 12 to 15 tons each day. The waste should be transported to the landfills (TPA) Mulur, Mojorejo Sukoharjo which located 27km from Gentan Village each day. In order to reduce the cost of waste disposal and also escalate the local’s living standard, the government collaborates with PIAT UGM to initiate the self-management waste village. This program would later be continued with agriculture activity by using the recycled organic waste product to support food security.
Gentan Village is not only using the village’s empty space for recycling waste and agriculture but also makes use of the narrow space between houses. The narrow space garden also helps to ease fulfilling the food needs for the urban. Thus, the garden would help to add Green Open Space. This program would also contribute to the agriculture insight of the younger generation. Moreover, the program would also help to handle the social problem, opening the job opportunity, and making urban life more dynamic by becoming a recreational site. The PIAT UGM and Gentan Village collaboration is expected to increase people’s environmental concern.