FKIP – Kalibening Village is one of the villages located on the slopes of Mount Merapi with the majority of people working as farmers. The agricultural products in this village include rice, tomatoes, mustard greens, long beans, cucumbers, beans, chilies, and celery. The Covid-19 pandemic has also impacted farmers’ incomes. One of the reasons for this is the mechanism for selling agricultural products that still depend on the traditional way. This traditional vegetable sales activity is still on a face-to-face basis. In fact, with the ongoing pandemic conditions, face-to-face activities are very limited.

Starting from these problems, group 44 students who are members of the Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta Real Work Lecture (KKN) initiated a mapping of the agricultural potential of Kalibening Village. The mapping activity began with a survey of agricultural locations and interviews with vegetable farmers in Kalibening Village regarding the potential and availability of vegetables. This mapping, then followed up with training, as well as assistance to farmers to be more innovative in marketing their products in this digital era. The activity was held on Thursday (19/8/2021) at the Budi Mulya PAUD Building, Kalibening Village, and was attended by vegetable farmers in the local village.

The training activities carried out included training on online business planning, the use of social media, and vegetable packaging, as well as labeling to support the agricultural potential mapping work program. The group of 44 KKN UNS collaborated with Siti Mauna as a young Magelang entrepreneur who was successful and successful in online business to become a training resource.

In practice, the women of vegetable farmers were very enthusiastic about participating in the training.

“The program is very useful, so you know how to sell online and how to pack vegetables so they last longer,” said Ernawati, who was a participant in the training.

Meanwhile, training and mentoring activities, ranging from training on product packaging safe consumption, online promotions based on consumer interest approaches, as well as the creation of online stores which will later be used as a medium for product introduction, sales, and marketing.

It is hoped that the outcome of this activity is that vegetable farmers in Kalibening Village can increase their sales, as well as local village agricultural products to become alternative solutions for healthy vegetable products for local consumers.

Reporter: Aulia Anjani
Editor: Zalfaa Azalia Pursita

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