ITB HIMAREKTA "Agrapana": Introducing Children to Hydroponics

By Adi Permana

Editor Adi Permana

JATINANGOR, itb.ac.id—Addressing people’s concerns and responsibilities can be channeled through social services, like the Kompos Ekstra program organized by ITB HIMAREKTA (Agricultural Engineering Student Association "Agrapana".

Kompos Ekstra is a collaborative program with Unpad HIMAGROW (Agronomy Student Association). Participating students visit Riyaadlul Jannah Orphanage and distribute necessities as donations worth more than Rp6 million.

"We want to create a meaningful impact through our collaboration," Izma Aliyya (BA'19), the Head of the Extracampus Division, said. The Chairman of ITB HIMAREKTA “Agrapana” Thoriq Izzurahman (BA '19) also thanked the orphanage for the opportunity to share their knowledge with the children.

Students of ITB HIMAREKTA “Agrapana” started the program by giving a brief introduction on hydroponics, explaining that plant cultivation using hydroponics can control pests, diseases, and nutrients better. The method is also more water-efficient and has easier maintenance; plants will not require frequent watering sessions, which makes it suitable for narrow lands to harvest better produce. One way of tending crops with hydroponics is by using used bottles.

The activity continued with games organized by the committee before it ended with the distribution of goods and a photo session. Moreover, the committee gave 200 snacks to people around the Jatinangor campus such as drivers, security guards, and peddlers.

The committee hoped that this event can create space for students to perform charity and establish teamwork with students from Unpad HIMAGRO, management from Riyaadlul Jannah Orphanage, and the Jatinangor community.

Reporter: Ardiansyah Satria Aradhana (Agricultural Engineering, 2020)
Translator: Ruth Nathania (Environmental Engineering, 2019)