Kulon Progo, February 20, 2025 – The Smart-Agri Facility Fabrication Team for Farmer-Scale Applications (FASTAN), led by Dr. Eng. Yosephus Ardean Kurnianto Prayitno, S.T., M.Eng. from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sekolah Vokasi, Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM), conducted a field survey with the Gisik Pranaji Farmers Group located in Bugel Village, Panjatan Sub-district, Kulon Progo Regency.
The survey, coordinated by Ahmat Hari Setiyawan, A.Md., was conducted as a follow-up to the LPDP’s 2025 Self-Reliance Partnership Catalyst Program, which is currently in the implementation phase. The selection of the farmer group surveyed was the result of program coordination managed by the Agriculture and Bapperida Department of Kulon Progo Regency, where several Prospective Farmers and Prospective Land (CPCL) candidates were proposed. Duwianta, S.P., as the Quality Supervisor of Agricultural Products, Junior Expert in the Field of Production and Protection of Food Crops, Horticulture, and Plantations at the Agriculture and Food Department of Kulon Progo Regency, and Irlan Widya Permono, S. Pi., as the Technical Policy Analyst in the Regional Research, Innovation, and Control Division of the Kulon Progo Regency Bapperida, also oversaw the smooth running of the survey as representatives of the partner team.
The Gisik Pranaji Farmers Group is known to already have a Greenhouse (GH) using the NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponic system, which is a hydroponic technology that places plant roots in a shallow layer of water and nutrients that is continuously circulated. This condition does not rule out the possibility that new technology is still needed to support the production process for greater efficiency and better quality.
The Gisik Pranaji Farmers Group, as one of the potential beneficiaries of the research, expressed enthusiasm for the program. The existing GH system remains highly dependent on human resources, with nutrient levels still being manually administered and checked. Therefore, the FASTAN-Katalisator Kemitraan Berdikari 2025 LPDP program is expected to make the GH production system more efficient. Additionally, the projection of melon cultivation with management as plasma/satellite farmers for UGM’s flagship melon product serves as a unique interest for the Gisik Pranaji Farmers Group.
The initial implementation of FASTAN is expected to enable farmer groups in Kulon Progo Regency to conduct hydroponic melon cultivation using a smart agriculture-based system. The FASTAN program will produce an integrated irrigation system based on DM-AQMS (Dosing Machine-Air Quality Monitoring System). With this system, farmers are expected to cultivate more efficiently and achieve premium fruit yields with improved productivity.
Additionally, this program receives full support from the local government, which provides facilities and incentives for farmers wishing to transition to the GH method. It is anticipated that the implementation of this system will significantly increase melon production in Kulon Progo Regency, thereby meeting the ever-growing market demand.
Author: Ahmat Hari Setiyawan; Curator: Yosephus Ardean Kurnianto Prayitno