Yogyakarta, July 14, 2025 — Students from Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM) have officially launched SWARA (Smart Wukirsari Agrofarming), a strategic initiative to promote community-based food security through an adaptive and applicable integrated technology approach.
This program is part of the Program Penguatan Kapasitas Organisasi Kemahasiswaan (Student Organization Capacity Strengthening Program, or PPK Ormawa), funded by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs under the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology, Republic of Indonesia (KEMDIKTISAINTEK). Through SWARA, SV UGM students implement a modern integrated farming model based on aquaponics, combining fish farming and crop cultivation in a single, sustainable ecosystem.
The key innovations in this program include the application of sensor technology for automatic water quality monitoring, technical training in aquaponics farming and post-harvest processing, and community mentoring to develop economically viable agricultural enterprises. The program focuses on empowering women from the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) group in Wukirsari Village, Imogiri Subdistrict, Bantul Regency who play a central role in household food security and serve as agents of social transformation at the village level.
Running from July to November 2025, the program integrates not only food production but also education, environmental sustainability, and local economic empowerment. The aquaponics learning center established during the program serves as an open community hub. In parallel, hands-on training in harvesting, post-harvest processing, and organic waste composting encourages the adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
In addition, the student team initiated the development of an aquaponics starter pack, produced and marketed by local residents. This innovation aims to create new entrepreneurship opportunities based on modern agriculture and foster an entrepreneurial spirit within the village community. The establishment of this community-based agribusiness marks the first step toward building an independent and sustainable agricultural value chain.
SWARA is implemented by a team of 15 students from various majors at SV UGM, all of whom were selected through a competitive process from university to national level. With strong support from faculty advisors and student organizations, the team successfully secured official funding from the Ministry, in recognition of the relevance and impact of their innovative proposal.
By combining appropriate technology with active community participation, SWARA is expected to become a real-life model of how collaboration between students and local residents can bring about sustainable positive change. This program is not merely a short-term initiative but serves as a prototype for a replicable village innovation model that can be applied in other regions with similar potential.
“We believe that change begins with small steps, taken with sincerity by people who care. From the village we move, with the community we grow, and for Indonesia we take our stride,” said a representative from the SWARA SV UGM team.
Writer: Febriana Trisnawati
