Pineapple Waste Holds Economic Value: State Polytechnic of Bangka Belitung Lecturer Assists KWT Mekar Sari in Producing Liquid Organic Fertilizer
A team of lecturers from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic poses for a photo with members of the Mekar Sari Women Farmers Group (KWT) following a training and mentoring session on processing pineapple waste into liquid organic fertilizer (POC) in Air Duren Village, Bangka Regency.
Lecturers from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel) introduced an innovation to transform pineapple waste into liquid organic fertilizer (POC) through a Community Service Program conducted with the Mekar Sari Women Farmers Group (KWT) in Air Duren Village, Mendo Barat District, Bangka Regency, on Saturday (June 13, 2026).
This community service initiative was funded by the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) under the Directorate General of Research and Development, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology—through the Regular Community Service Program (Community Partnership Empowerment/PkM scheme) for the 2026 funding year. The project involved a team of lecturers from Polman Babel—Bangka Belitung’s premier vocational campus—including Helda Susianti, S.P., M.P., Dora Palupi, S.P., M.P., Tri Agusti Farma, S.Pd., M.Kom., and Nur Khasanah, S.P., M.Si.; Educational Laboratory Technicians (PLP) Al Furqon, A.Md.T. and Rifki Pramulia Adha, S.Tp.; as well as students Amanda Saputri and Muhamad Dikko Mulia Saputra.
When interviewed on Friday (June 26, 2026), the PkM Project Leader, Helda Susianti, S.P., M.P., stated that the entire series of activities proceeded smoothly and received an excellent response from the community. "Through outreach, training, and guidance on producing pineapple-waste-based POC, KWT members gained both knowledge and new skills in processing organic waste into a useful product," she noted.
Furthermore, Helda explained that pineapple waste—previously viewed merely as a production byproduct holds significant potential for processing into liquid organic fertilizer that supports sustainable agriculture; the members of KWT Mekar Sari have shown great enthusiasm for learning and applying this simple, locally-based technology.
"This program goes beyond providing training; it supplies supporting technology, including a pineapple waste shredder, a grinder, liquid organic fertilizer (POC) composting barrels, pH/TDS/EC meters, a waterproof digital bench scale, a display unit for the fertilizer products, as well as various raw materials and production components," she stated.
"The application of this appropriate technology fosters a more productive, community-based waste management system. The 'Zero Waste Cycling' model for pineapple waste introduced here can be further developed to strengthen food security while boosting the economic self-reliance of the Air Duren village community," she added.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of KWT Mekar Sari, Hj. Mariani, S.Pd., noted that the guidance provided by the Polman Babel team has equipped them with the knowledge to transform pineapple waste into beneficial liquid organic fertilizer, thereby helping to reduce reliance on fertilizers sourced from outside the village.
"We are also grateful to the team of lecturers and their staff for covering essential topics ranging from production development and packaging to the marketing of the liquid organic fertilizer produced by KWT Mekar Sari," Mariani expressed.
