ULM Students Revitalize Waste Banks and Develop Hydroponics in Pondok Pisang, Banjarbaru

Banjarbaru – Students from Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) are implementing the MBKT Impact Village Development program in Pondok Pisang Village, West Landasan Ulin District, Banjarbaru City. Ten students from various faculties are joining forces to implement the economic empowerment and environmental conservation program for the Pondok Pisang community in Banjarbaru.

This student group consists of students from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), and the Faculty of Medicine, under the guidance of Field Supervisor Alfian Misran, S.E., M.Sc., Ak., CA., CPS (Aus). They are teaching residents how to cultivate sustainable hydroponics and cultivate maggots. In addition, this group also helped revitalize the waste bank in Pondok Pisang Village.

The group’s leader, Abd Halim Opu Depaware, explained that this activity was motivated by the community’s underutilized resource potential, particularly the under-utilized waste bank facilities and the residents’ interest in modern hydroponic farming.

“We have two main programs: waste bank revitalization and hydroponic installations. The goal is to encourage the community to generate economic value while protecting the environment,” he said.

Halim explained that program design was carried out through observation, initial surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs) with residents, and identification of priority issues. The activity plan was then consulted with the village government to ensure it aligned with community needs.

During the Village Development program, which began in December 2025, ULM students have received training in MSME management, digital marketing, packaging innovation and local product branding, hydroponic training, waste bank establishment, and digital literacy and educational motivation education.

These programs, Halim explained, provide a platform for directly applying the knowledge they have acquired in management, economics, accounting, social sciences, engineering, and environmental sciences.

The Pondok Pisang community has welcomed the ULM students positively. Residents are actively involved in training, the village government provides support for facilities, and community groups are enthusiastic about the innovations introduced.

Through the Impactful Village Development (MBKT) program, students are expected to gain contextual learning experiences and strengthen soft skills such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving. Meanwhile, for the community, this program is expected to increase human resource capacity, encourage economic independence, and improve environmental quality and well-being.

ULM affirms its commitment to maintaining the sustainability of the program through integration into the MBKT scheme, regular monitoring and evaluation, long-term collaboration with the village government, and continued mentoring through the Village Development alumni network.