On Friday, September 24th, 2021, from 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. West Indonesian Time, the Undergraduate Program of Soil Science at the Faculty of Agriculture, Sebelas Maret University, held a guest lecture on water management. The theme of the event was “Water Management in Agriculture,” and the speaker was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Keigo Noda from Gifu University, Japan. The event was moderated by Mrs. Komariah, STP., M.Sc., Ph.D. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noda explained that in Japan, paddy fields near water sources such as rivers can serve as buffers against floods. Despite having four seasons, Japan does not always guarantee water availability for crops, so paddy fields are typically located near water sources. When river water exceeds its capacity and spills onto the land, paddy fields can hold the excess water, preventing it from flooding residential areas. Rice is resilient against inundation, allowing paddy fields to contain the water without damage. The local government in Japan provides compensation for rice fields used to hold floodwater if they sustain damage. The students who attended the event were highly enthusiastic and curious about the topic. Many questions were asked during the discussion, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noda’s answers were very insightful. This event aimed to enhance the audience’s knowledge of water management in agriculture and share experiences from Japan.
Training on Klanceng Honey Bee Cultivation
The Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK) of Mount Bromo is currently managed by the UNS Forestry Training and Education Unit (UPT Pusdiklathut UNS). In addition to managing flora and fauna, UPT Pusdiklathut UNS also collaborates with the local community. Through community service activities, a team led by Dwi Priyo Ariyanto, S.P, M.Sc, Ph.D, conducted training on klanceng honey bee cultivation, which is expected to become an alternative economic source for the local community. The training was conducted in the form of classroom sessions, featuring presentations from speakers and practical cultivation exercises. The classroom training took place on June 30, 2020, attended by 41 participants from the youth organizations of Delingan and Gedong. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the training was conducted separately, with speakers delivering information online while participants gathered at the KHDTK UNS hall. Despite the pandemic, the event ran smoothly, with engaging discussions and effective delivery of the material by the speakers. The material presented by the two speakers, Mr. Agussalim, S.Pt, M.Sc., a researcher from Gadjah Mada University, and Mr. Ahmad Farid Indra Gunawan, S.TP., a practitioner and entrepreneur, covered business opportunities, the cultivation process, harvesting, and marketing of honey.