Breadfruit, MC – The Malang Hydroponic Community (Hima) continues to strive to develop the potential of hydroponic-based agriculture. One of its efforts is to collaborate with SMKN 1 Janti, Department of Agribusiness, to build Green House hydroponic melons in the SMKN 1 Janti Malang complex.
Hima activist, Eko Budi Setyawan, revealed that currently the demand for premium class melons is very large. If using conventional farming methods. Then the results are still not optimal to meet market demand.
"Incidentally, SMKN 1 Janti has an Agribusiness major and is clearly in line with our concept. Finally, we did the collaboration," said Doel Kamdi, Eko Budi Setyawan's nickname, Wednesday (18/1).
Doel Kamdi said, learning from the experience of handling Green House in Lawang, in Malang, the type of melon that is suitable to be developed is the golden melon. Weighing one kilogram to 1,2 kilograms, the golden melon is very suitable to be marketed in the premium class.
"In addition to cultivation, in the future the green house at SMKN 1 Janti will also be used as a... showroom "A center for learning and selling hydroponic products," explained Doel.
He added, Hima will educate students of SMKN 1 Janti to be educated to become superior farmers and be able to compete in winning the competition. Moreover, in the era of an increasingly open free market, Indonesian farmers must compete with foreign farmers.
"I am sure that if they are properly trained from an early age, many reliable farmers will emerge from Malang City, it just depends on whether or not they have the will," he explained.
Currently under construction Green House has reached 80 percent. The first stage has already planted 400 seedlings, and it is estimated that in April the first melon fruit can be harvested. (cah/yon)
