Rice Field Irrigation, a Learning Medium for Polman Negeri Babel Students in Kemuja Village
Irrigation is not just a water channel, but the lifeblood of farmers. In Kemuja Village, Polman Negeri Babel students witnessed firsthand how every drop of water matters.
A team of lecturers and students of the Applied Precision Agriculture Undergraduate Program of the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel) went directly to the field in the management of rice field irrigation channels owned by the Sejahtera Farmers Group Association (Gapoktan) in Kemuja Village, Wednesday (05/21/2025).
This activity is part of the implementation of practice-based learning which is a characteristic of vocational education.
The four lecturers involved in this activity are Mahmudin, S.P., M.Sc., Rizki Meliya Ningsih, S.P., M.Sc., Badriyah, S.P., M.Sc., and Priestiani, S.P., M.Sc. They accompanied the students during the activity together with the Head of the Sejahtera Gapoktan of Kemuja Village, Muhammad Zaidan, who also provided direction in the field.
Mahmudin, S.P., M.Si., explained that this activity is very relevant to the courses taught in class, especially those related to irrigation techniques, efficient water use, and their relationship to agricultural productivity.
"This is a real form of learning that combines theory and practice directly," he said.
Through this activity, students are invited to understand directly how irrigation systems are designed, operated, and maintained. They can also observe real problems faced by farmers, such as damaged channels, uneven water distribution, and challenges in maintaining water availability during the dry season.
"This experience is expected to strengthen students' understanding of the importance of sustainable water resource management," continued Mahmudin.
He also emphasized that activities like this can foster a sense of empathy and social responsibility in students to design applicable solutions for the community," he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Gapoktan Sejahtera, Muhammad Zaidan, welcomed the presence of the team of lecturers and students from Polman Babel. According to him, this activity has a positive impact on farmers, especially in improving the irrigation system which has begun to decline in function.
"Our group feels helped by this visit, because students and lecturers not only observe, but also provide technical input for improving irrigation channels. Hopefully, this collaboration can continue," said Zaidan.
Zaidan also hopes that this activity will inspire the younger generation to care more about the agricultural sector, especially in terms of utilizing technology and more efficient water management and our agriculture needs innovation and support from academics," he said.
