Agricultural Innovation: Goat Manure-Based Organic Fertilizer Supporting Sustainable Agriculture
Yogyakarta, August 28, 2023 – The increasing interest in organic farming has driven organic fertilizers to become a sought-after solution in the modern agricultural world. Apart from being environmentally friendly, organic fertilizers have significant potential in improving soil quality and agricultural yields. Conventional farming methods often rely on chemical fertilizers that can deplete soil fertility over time. This is one of the reasons why organic fertilizers are gaining popularity.
As a demonstration of concern for societal issues, especially in providing organic fertilizers, and to fulfill one of the pillars of Higher Education’s Tri Dharma, which is Community Service, the Community Service Team Based on the Utilization of Research Results and the Application of Appropriate Technology (TTG) from Gadjah Mada University has organized training on the conversion of goat manure into organic fertilizer through fermentation processes at CV. Berkat Ilahi Farm, Yogyakarta.
Mokhammad Fajar Pradipta, M.Eng, who is the responsible person for the TTG community service program, explained to Prof. Ir. Yuny Erwanto, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM, during a meeting on August 25, 2023, that the fermentation process of goat manure typically takes about 2 months using EM4 starter. However, with the technology introduced by the TTG Community Service Team, this time has been successfully shortened to just 5 days. Organic fertilizer not only improves soil structure but also helps maintain moisture and provides essential nutrients without causing long-term negative effects.
In this context, goat manure-based fertilizer is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and it contains beneficial microbes, making it a promising choice. The development of organic fertilizer based on goat manure through the fermentation process provides a sustainable solution for modern agriculture. This fertilizer not only addresses the issue of using chemical fertilizers that have negative impacts on the environment and soil quality but also naturally enhances agricultural productivity. With proper implementation, fermentation-based organic fertilizer can be a crucial step towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.
Support and innovation in the development of goat manure-based organic fertilizer bring hope for a better future in agriculture, where abundant yields can be achieved without sacrificing the environment and long-term soil fertility.
