To enhance sustainable livestock feed security and empower communities living near forests, a Community Service Team from the UGM Faculty of Animal Science, led by Prof. Bambang Suhartanto, organized a training session titled “Implementing Agroforestry Systems to Enhance Sustainable Feed Security”. The event took place on Saturday, August 30, 2024, at the Wanagama Forest Area with Special Purpose or Kawasan Hutan dengan Tujuan Khusus (KHDTK) in Gunungkidul.
Funded by the UGM Directorate of Community Service, this program focuses on providing support to the “Mitragama” livestock farmer group. The initiative aims to address the shortage of green forage during the dry season by utilizing the land beneath tree canopies at KHDTK Wanagama through an agroforestry system.
Through this training, partner groups were introduced to cultivation techniques for Gama Umami grass: a superior forage crop distinguished by its high shade tolerance. This characteristic makes it ideal for cultivation beneath tree canopies without hindering the growth of the primary trees, thereby creating synergy between forest conservation and the enhancement of the community’s economy.
“Implementing an agroforestry system using Gama Umami grass serves not only to provide year-round forage but also to optimize sustainable land use. Communities can derive economic value from livestock without having to reduce forest cover,” stated Prof. Bambang Suhartanto, the program’s lead coordinator.
This interactive session covered both the theory and practical aspects of planting Gama Umami grass. The aim is for participants to immediately apply what they learned to their own land. Furthermore, the long-term goal is to achieve community self-sufficiency in livestock forage, boost economic income, and preserve the forest ecosystem within the Wanagama KHDTK. This program represents a tangible commitment by the university to fulfilling the Tri Dharma (Three Pillars of Higher Education), particularly in the area of community service.
Original article: https://fapet.ugm.ac.id/pemberdayaan-masyarakat-melalui-agroforestri-untuk-ketahanan-pakan-berkelanjutan-di-khdtk-wanagama/
Translated by: Sarah Suminar