Application of Biofungicide Technology in Corn Cultivation in the Harapan Kita Farmer Group

Every lecturer has three obligations known as Tri Darma PT, namely Teaching, Research and Service. Based on this, the team of lecturers from the Faculty of Agriculture and Mining Land Bioremediation (FP-Biotam) at the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) Makassar implemented the third dharma, namely community service. This team has carried out community service activities with the title Application of Biofungicide Technology in Corn Cultivation at the Harapan Kita Farmer Group. This service activity received a service funding grant from the UMI Waqf Foundation through the UMI Community Service Institute (LPkM) for the 2025 budget year.

The team implementing Community Service activities is chaired by Dr. Suherah, SP., MP. and Ir. Rasmeidah, M.M. as a team member, with the main focus increasing the skills and knowledge of Harapan Kita Farmers Group members in making biofungicides for corn plants. This program was attended by 27 farmers from the Harapan Kita farmer group and the community in Temmappaduae Village, Marusu District, Maros Regency.

This service activity is divided into three stages, namely the first stage in the form of socialization and counseling which was carried out on Thursday, September 18 2025. The material provided included technology for making biopesticides and technology for cultivating corn plants. This training is held from 10.00 WITA until finished. The second stage continued with training activities on making biopesticides which was held on Thursday, October 9 2025. Participants received guidance and direct practice in producing biopesticides and how to apply them to corn plants. And in the third stage, an intensive mentoring program is carried out from September to October 2025. This mentoring aims to monitor the application of the technology that has been taught to run optimally and sustainably. Team Leader Dr. Suherah, SP., MP., that this activity was welcomed enthusiastically by the farmers. "Farmers and the community are very enthusiastic about taking part in this activity and hope that activities like this will be sustainable," he said.

Apart from that, on this occasion, equipment was also handed over to the Harapan Kita Farmers Group to support increasing corn production.

Chairman of the Harapan Kita Farmers Group, Abdul Karim, expressed his appreciation for this activity. "We really appreciate this program and hope that similar activities can be carried outcome back in the future to support the development of corn farming businesses," he said.

This activity is a concrete manifestation of UMI's commitment to supporting economic developmentcommunity through technology and innovation-based community service programs,which is expected to improve the welfare of farmers in the region.