Research Findings by Polman Negeri Babel Lecturers: Organic Compost Trial Boosts Sorghum and Corn Productivity
Lecturers from the Bangka Belitung State Polytechnic (Polman Negeri Babel) and their partners relax in a hut after conducting an organic compost trial as part of the Bestari Saintek 2026 program.
Lecturers from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel) continue to drive agricultural innovation through the "Bestari Saintek 2026" program. This initiative involves the first phase of organic compost trials on sorghum and maize crops, conducted on farmland in Kimak Village and Air Jangkang Village on Saturday (July 18, 2026).
The program is being executed by a team of lecturers from Polman Babel—the leading vocational campus in Bangka Belitung—comprising Mahmudin, M.Si., Hendrik Ali, M.M., Nur Khasanah, M.Si., Irwan, Ph.D., Dr. Ilham Ary Wahyudie, M.T., and Andyka, S.E. They are joined by Deni Pratama, M.Si., a lecturer from the University of Bangka Belitung (UBB), and are collaborating with the organic compost startup MSME "Anwar" as a partner to support the research program.
In an interview on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), the Head of the Bestari Saintek 2026 Program Team, Mahmudin, M.Si., explained that the collaboration between the research team, village administrations, and partners ensured the smooth execution of activities—ranging from land preparation and compost application to planting—in accordance with established research procedures.
Furthermore, he noted that the results of this first trial phase would serve as a foundation for the team to observe and evaluate the growth of the sorghum and maize crops, as these observations will be used to refine the organic compost application methods for the subsequent stages of the research.
Any success achieved moving forward will be the result of the entire team's hard work and the support of partners who provided the land for the Bestari Saintek 2026 Program research.
"I hope this first phase of trials yields positive results. The entire team has put in their best effort, aided by the support of partners who provided the site for the Bestari Saintek 2026 Program research," he emphasized.
Furthermore, the Bestari Saintek 2026 Program, conducted by the Polman Babel lecturer team, is expected to generate technological innovations for the effective and eco-friendly use of organic compost—innovations that can be adopted by the community—while also contributing to the sustainable increase of food crop productivity," he stated.
Meanwhile, Anwar, an MSME entrepreneur specializing in organic compost startups, welcomed the research conducted by the Polman Babel lecturers, noting the positive potential and significant benefits that sorghum and maize crops offer the community.
"Personally, I have gained a great deal of new knowledge and insight from the Polman Babel lecturers—things I was previously unaware of," said Anwar.
