Doctoral Students Conduct Community Service to Support MSMEs in Bengkulu City

Doctoral (PhD) students carried out a community service activity focusing on the use of household waste as a booster for fruit plant production to support the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Bengkulu City. This activity was conducted by Eko Sumartono, S.P., M.Sc. and Parwito, S.P., M.P. as part of applying academic knowledge to the community.

The community service program was aimed at MSME actors in the agricultural sector, especially those who still have limited knowledge in using local resources. Household waste, especially organic waste, has not been used well so far, even though it has great potential to be processed into organic fertilizer that can improve fruit formation and plant productivity.

Through this activity, the PhD students provided counseling and training to MSME actors on how to manage household waste into organic fertilizer. The activities were carried out through simple explanations and practical sessions, so participants could directly understand the waste processing process and how to apply the fertilizer to fruit plants.

The results of the activity showed an increase in understanding and awareness among MSME actors about the importance of environmentally friendly household waste management. Participants began to realize that organic waste not only helps reduce environmental pollution, but can also be used to improve soil fertility and support the sustainability of their agricultural businesses.

Through this community service activity, it is expected that MSME actors in Bengkulu City can apply simple household waste-based methods as an affordable, easy, and sustainable solution to increase fruit plant productivity.