Lecturers at the Babel State Polytechnic Promote Modern Agriculture in Banyu Asin Village
A moment of togetherness between lecturers and students of Polman Negeri Babel with the Banyu Asin Village farmer group in supporting appropriate technology, the farmers are now more ready to increase harvest yields, maintain the quality of grain, while strengthening the position of local agriculture.
The Banyu Asin Village Farmers Group in Riau Silip District, Bangka Regency, received support from lecturers at the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel) through a community service program. This program focuses on the application of appropriate technology to increase productivity and added value in the agricultural sector, Friday (September 19, 2025).
Banyu Asin Village covers 3,354 hectares, with 1,706 hectares of agricultural land, including 106 hectares of rice paddies. Despite its significant potential, farmers in the village still face several obstacles, ranging from the use of traditional technology, limited access to modern agricultural equipment, suboptimal business management systems, and limited market access.
To address these challenges, a team of Polman Babel lecturers, consisting of Yuliyanto, M.T., Dr. Parulian Silalahi, M.Pd., and Laily Maharani, M.Si., along with students, provided a concrete solution in the form of a rice or paddy drying machine and a rice cutter. The presence of this tool is expected to help farmers overcome post-harvest challenges, especially during the rainy season.
The head of the community service team, Yuliyanto, M.T., emphasized on Monday (September 22, 2025) that the strategy of strengthening farmer groups through appropriate technology is a crucial step in increasing agricultural competitiveness. "The application of modern agricultural tools and machinery, such as mechanical harvesters and crop dryers, is expected to increase production efficiency," he explained.
Furthermore, Yuliyanto also introduced another innovation, the mina padi system, which integrates rice cultivation with fisheries. According to him, this method offers two benefits simultaneously: producing both rice and fish. Furthermore, fish in the rice fields also play a role in naturally controlling pests, thereby reducing pesticide use.
"The innovative mina padi system not only increases productivity but also strengthens the sustainability of the agricultural ecosystem. Farmers can earn additional income from fisheries while also naturally maintaining soil fertility," Yuliyanto added.
Rohmi, S.Kom., Village Head and Chair of the Banyu Asin Farmers Group, explained that previously, the community still relied on traditional production technology. The rice harvesting process was still done manually, which took longer. "The biggest problem was that during the rainy season, rice that couldn't be dried easily became moldy or rotten," he said.
Rohmi is optimistic that this problem can be resolved with the rice drying machine from Polman Babel. He believes this assistance is an important step in accelerating the post-harvest process and improving the quality of the resulting grain.
"Thank God, there's now a solution. This assistance must be utilized appropriately and to the fullest extent possible. We hope this technology will not only help farmers but also serve as a learning tool for students, better preparing them for the world of work," he stressed.
