An educational institution is a place to develop the talents of young people to improve knowledge competencies and entrepreneurial skills through various educational programs provided. Educational institutions provide structured learning programs and curricula designed to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding in various fields of study. With the enthusiasm for innovation from students of an educational institution, the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research and Technology (Ditjen Dikti Ristek) held a program called P2MW.

The P2MW program, which is an acronym for “Entrepreneurial Student Development Program”, is a program that aims to explore the potential and encourage active participation of students in providing innovation in research and education. This program is often implemented by universities or educational institutions as part of student development efforts. P2MW is a student innovation development program from the government under the auspices of the Directorate General of Higher Education Ristek. This program is available for PTN and PTS Universities.

P2MW participants have the opportunity to join the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program. P2MW has six research category areas: food programs, agriculture, digital business, manufacturing and applied technology implementation, tourism and trade services, and arts and culture.

Through a message provided by the Directorate General of Higher Education and Research on April 27, 2024 regarding the list of universities that can participate in the program, there are 2,017 total universities that have passed the selection process. One of the universities that won P2MW 2024 funding is Dian Nusantara University.

Dian Nusantara University successfully passed the P2MW 2024 grant for a proposal entitled “Green Revolution of Hydroponic Plants”. In general, Hydroponic development techniques refer to a variety of methods, strategies, and approaches used to optimize plant growth in Hydroponic systems. The purpose of this development technique is to create an ideal environment for plants to grow and develop without the use of soil.

Al-faris Noer Habby as the team leader said that vegetables are one of the primary commodities needed by every class of society. This is due to the role of vegetables as a source of vitamins and minerals needed to regulate metabolic processes in the body. With the revolution of Hydroponic development techniques with greenhouses, the internal lighting system with LEDs is expected to make the harvest more optimal. On this occasion, Dian Nusantara University brought the Hydroponic planting method in a more effective way.

In this case, the method used is NFT Hydroponic planting. This method uses a system that is almost the same as the terraces in rice fields. This method was chosen in order to achieve agricultural optimization with Hydroponic technology from the fulfillment of healthy eating needs for the people to meet health standards.

Hydroponic vegetables will be assisted by the installation of a greenhouse consisting of a black mesh roof with regular air and temperature control in the Hydroponic garden area in order to protect the direct exposure to rainwater and temperature changes in the greenhouse. Plants consisting of various species ranging from spinach to strawberries will receive even circulation of water and nutrient solutions.

Many of these facilities are due to the nature of the hydroponic technique, which requires the use of energy to maintain optimal environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and light. In addition, technologies such as water pumps and pH sensors must be monitored and managed properly. If there is an interruption in energy supply or technology malfunction, plant growth can be disrupted.

Dian Nusantara University has appointed five student representatives from various study programs to form a more cohesive team guided by one supervisor. The team is named “Millennial Farmers” and consists of the following members:

1. Mrs. Lionie, S,Kom, M.Kom as the supervisor of Informatics Engineering Study Program.
2. Al-Faris Noer Habby as the chief proponent of Informatics Engineering students
3. Muhammad Khansa, student of Communication Science Study Program
4. Aldi Muhammad Rudianto student of Accounting Study Program
5. Siska Maliana, student of Informatics Engineering Study Program
6. Isati Gulo, student of Informatics Engineering Study Program

The research team from Dian Nusantara University has chosen Kemplang RT 002/017, East Kosambi, Kosambi sub-district, Tangerang as the P2MW research location. This area is located in a strategic location in an industrial area and densely populated settlements, so it has a dual function that can be a challenge as well as an opportunity that requires effective management. In addition, increasing urbanization and limited agricultural land highlight the potential of Hydroponic farming techniques to effectively improve the vegetable farming industry in the area.

Hydroponic development innovation refers to efforts to improve the methods, technologies, and systems used in the practice of Hydroponics, which is a soil-less farming method that uses nutrient solutions for plant needs. It is an increasingly popular approach in modern agriculture due to several advantages, including water savings, efficient land use, and the ability to produce more consistent crop yields.

In the future, this research will collaborate with the Indonesian Digital Farmers group to conduct digital marketing and introduction of NFT Hydroponic plant products to the surrounding community.

Hydroponics is a technique of utilizing various organic materials and pipe-based irrigation systems above the soil surface as a substitute for soil media. Through the P2MW 2024 program, Dian Nusantara University is expected to contribute to farmers and local residents. So that it has an impact on the increase in demand for vegetables, especially in Kosambi sub-district, Tangerang Regency, which is expected to bring satisfying results and research research is useful not only for the campus but also for the world of agriculture.

(Danang Respati Wicaksono & Sekar Ayu Putri / HUMAS UNDIRA)

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Biro Humas & Sekretariat Universitas Dian Nusantara

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