ULM Students Process Excess Oranges and Village Waste into a Solution for Community Independence in Danda Village
Barito Kuala – Fourteen students from Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) implemented the Impactful Village Development Program in Danda Jaya Village, Rantau Badauh District, Barito Kuala Regency. The group presented a program titled “Improving Community Independence through Irrigation System Maintenance, Utilization of Excess Oranges, and Waste Management.”
The group consisted of students from the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Agriculture, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, under the guidance of Field Supervisor Ir. Abdul Haris, M.Si. The group leader, Achmad Akmal Maulana, explained that the program was motivated by the large amount of unmanaged organic and inorganic waste, including rotting orange waste, which is a major contributor to village waste.
“We want to help the community manage local commodities to add value while reducing the amount of rotting orange waste in Danda Jaya Village,” he said.
Akmal explained that before developing the proposal, he and his team conducted a survey and interacted directly with village officials and the community to identify priority issues. This approach ensures that the program is truly needs-based.
The series of activities began with the survey and proposal development in November 2025, followed by briefing and partner search in December 2025, and ended with the implementation of the activities in the village from January 6–10, 2026.
The series of activities implemented under the Impactful Village Development program in Danda Jaya Village included:
- Socialization and biopore creation with elementary school students;
- Training for PKK women on making essential oils and orange syrup, complete with hands-on practice;
- Discussions and outreach on rice field irrigation maintenance;
- Involvement in the mushroom cultivation process that has developed in the village.
Akmal explained that all these activities were designed according to the students’ academic backgrounds and had been tested for practical application before being implemented in the community.
During the implementation, Akmal stated that the Danda Jaya Village community welcomed the ULM students. Enthusiasm was evident in the active participation of residents and children in each activity. The program, designed to be interactive and applicable, was deemed successful in attracting public interest.
The ULM Impact Village Development Program is designed to provide a contextual learning platform for students to implement the knowledge gained in lectures. The program is also expected to hone communication and problem-solving skills. The program’s targeted outputs include not only social impact but also scientific publications, community service journals, and creative documentation.
Through the ULM Impact Village Development program, students can demonstrate their role as agents of change within the community, building sustainable village independence. ULM is committed to promoting program sustainability by improving the quality of regulations and administration, and strengthening collaboration with villages to ensure the program continues to operate smoothly.
