UMS Lecturers Assist KWT Kopen SAE in Developing Hydroponic Vegetables, Harvest Reaches 69 Kilograms

A team of lecturers from Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) has successfully assisted the Kopen SAE Women Farmers Group (KWT) in developing hydroponic vegetable cultivation in Kampung Kopen, Ngadirejo Sub-district, Kartasura District, Sukoharjo Regency. This community service program is a concrete expression of strengthening the green economy through women's empowerment at the village level, while also demonstrating the university's real contribution to addressing the practical problems faced by the surrounding community.

The program, titled "Strengthening the Green Economy of the Kopen Sae Women Farmers Group through Innovation in Hydroponic Vegetable Production and Marketing in Ngadirejo Village, Kartasura," is led by Dr. Masduki, M.Si., and funded by the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2026 fiscal year. The program has been running from May to September 2026.

On land that had previously not been optimally used, a hydroponic installation now stands with rows of thriving green lettuce. This was clearly visible when the team of lecturers gathered together with the women members of KWT Kopen SAE amid the lush hydroponic lettuce plants, showing off their harvest with bright, enthusiastic faces.

Masduki explained that hydroponics was chosen as the program's focus for good reason. This cultivation method is considered well-suited to the relatively limited land available in the Kopen area, while still being able to produce quality vegetable products with a relatively short harvest period.

"Hydroponics is also in line with the spirit of the green economy because it minimizes the use of chemical pesticides and is more water-efficient compared to conventional farming," Masduki said on Monday (31/8/2026).

After going through an intensive mentoring process, KWT Kopen Sae successfully harvested hydroponic lettuce with encouraging results. In the first harvest, in July 2026, the group harvested 68 kilograms of lettuce with sales reaching Rp 911,000. That wasn't the end of it — continuously honed enthusiasm and skill brought even better results in the second harvest in August 2026, namely 69 kilograms of lettuce with sales worth Rp 873,000. The drop in revenue was due to a discount given as part of participation in the festivities marking the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia's independence.

Women of KWT Kopen SAE pose for a photo amid the hydroponic lettuce garden ready for harvest. Personal documentation.

The successful harvest, accompanied by increased sales revenue, is a real indicator that the transfer of hydroponic cultivation knowledge from the lecturer team to KWT members has been effective. The women of KWT are now increasingly skilled at caring for the plants, from nutrient management to post-harvest handling, so that the quality and quantity of the harvest keep improving from one cycle to the next.

One of the main factors supporting the program's success is the high enthusiasm of the women members of KWT Kopen SAE, who are actively involved in every stage of the activity, from seed-sowing training, transplanting, daily plant care, and harvest packaging, to sterilizing the installation after harvest. This collective spirit has become important social capital for the program's sustainability.

The presence of the hydroponic installation in Kampung Kopen doesn't just provide a source of healthy food for local residents, but also opens up new economic opportunities for the women members of KWT. Equipped with financial management and digital marketing knowledge provided during the program, the harvest of hydroponic vegetables such as lettuce is expected to be marketed more widely.

Distribution takes place through networks of small shops and traditional markets around Kartasura, as well as through digital platforms that reach consumers outside the area.

"With harvest and sales results that continue to grow, this program is expected to strengthen the role of women in the household and community economy," Masduki said.

Going forward, the UMS lecturer team hopes that collaboration with KWT Kopen Sae can continue, including expanding the scale of the business, diversifying the types of hydroponic vegetables grown, and strengthening the group's institutional capacity so it can access various other business partnership programs. This program stands as concrete proof that synergy between academia and the community can produce sustainable, positive change.

Writer: Maysali Sudarwati

Editor: Fika Annisa’ Sholihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid