EWINDO Introduces And Trains Vegetable Cultivation Techniques To Special School Students In Bandung

Photo: Doc. WINDOW

JAKARTA - In the framework of National Children's Day, PT East West Seed Indonesia (EWINDO) or known as "CAP PANAH MERAH" today in collaboration with the Special School (SLB) G Bhakti Mitra Utama Foundation (YBMU) Baleendah, Bandung Regency held a Cultivation Training Vegetables and Introduction to the World of Horticulture.

Through the training which was also attended by representatives of SLB Nurul Iman and LSB Nita Karya, it is hoped that students will gain insight into vegetable cultivation with a hydroponic system and can develop it themselves after graduating from school so that they can be independent.

“This activity is a manifestation of EWINDO's concern for the Disability Community so that they can get to know the world of horticulture from the school environment and train the independence and entrepreneurship of SLB students through agriculture. We believe that students with special needs have the passion and strong will to take care of plants wholeheartedly so that they are able to produce something that will be useful in preparation for independent living," said Deputy Managing Director of EWINDO Afrizal Gindow, in his statement, Wednesday 27 July.

Through this collaboration between EWINDO and SLB G Yayasan Bhakti Mitra Utama (YBMU) Baleendah, 60 students from Elementary School, Junior High School and Senior High School will receive training in both theory and practice of plant cultivation with a hydroponic system carried out on land.” My Vegetable Garden” and “Urban Farming Corner”.

Not only students, school teachers also got the transfer of knowledge about cultivation techniques and vegetable packaging from EWINDO. EWINDO's collaboration with SLB G YBMU Baleendah has been going on since April 2022.

Afrizal Gindow explained that this transfer of knowledge began by introducing leaf vegetable cultivation. The training participants will be introduced to superior quality vegetable seeds such as MAESTRO F1, Kangkung BANGKOK, Pak Choy NAULI F1, and MIRA Red Spinach. This leafy vegetable is a relatively easy and simple plant to cultivate.

It is also hoped that with this program, students have useful activities to fill their time, especially at home.

“In the long term, students will get provisions for the future, such as being interested in agriculture. This is at the same time to foster hope for children and their parents," Afrizal added.

This program received a positive response from students who attended the training. They diligently follow the training step by step. Starting from sowing vegetable seeds such as kale until the harvest process.

“I am happy to participate in this activity. I became aware of the process of growing vegetables,” said Kiki, one of the students who has been attending the training for a week.

According to the Principal of SLB G YBMU, Gaos Haeruman, this activity was not only attended by students, but also involved parents and teachers.

"By getting this training, students and parents can cultivate these hydroponic vegetables at home," added Gaos.

In addition, welcoming the introduction of vegetable cultivation activities from EWINDO is very helpful for schools in realizing the school curriculum for agricultural skills. Gaos hopes that this activity will be a provision for students and vegetable cultivation can be an option for them to be successful and independent in the future.

In addition to training, vegetables were harvested which had been planted some time ago. According to Gaos, the harvested vegetables are used to meet the consumption needs of vegetables in schools.

As a vegetable seed company, EWINDO also pays special attention to children's growth and development through nutritious foods that can be met from vegetables, including children with special needs. So far, EWINDO has provided training on plant cultivation practices for children as well as online workshops on strategies for introducing nutritious food.

National Children's Day is the right moment, therefore EWINDO invites educators, parents and various stakeholders to jointly invite Indonesian children to learn to process and consume vegetables for a healthier life.

The activity of transferring horticultural plant cultivation technology to students with special needs has actually been carried out by EWINDO since 2012. At that time, the company collaborated with a number of special schools, including SLB Agro Industries in Cisarua, Bandung. Students are taught about the stages of plant cultivation, namely how to seed, plant, maintain and harvest.

It is hoped that students will know the stages of cultivation, ranging from the general to more advanced cultivation techniques.

Of course, the transfer of plant cultivation technology is not only aimed at children with special needs. Since operating in 1990, EWINDO has nurtured millions of farmers in Indonesia from Aceh to Papua in a sustainable manner.

Through the seeds of "CAP PANAH MERAH" farmers can access more than 150 types of superior quality vegetable seeds so that they are able to optimize production and minimize production costs so that their welfare will increase.

Not only that, EWINDO has also developed the SIPINDO application that can be used by farmers to support the success of horticultural cultivation. With this application, farmers can not only access in real time weather conditions that affect the success of crop cultivation, even through this application farmers can access market conditions for horticultural products so that they have a higher bargaining position.

In addition, to support the regeneration of farmers in Indonesia, EWINDO also continuously fosters millennial farmers through the Young Arrow Red Farmer group (PMPM). Until now, there have been hundreds of farmers under 35 years old from various regions in Indonesia who have joined PMPM.

Through this forum, young farmers will receive training and assistance in implementing agricultural technology innovations, controlling pests and diseases of vegetable crops by experts from EWINDO.

“EWINDO will continuously carry out a program to introduce vegetables to children from an early age so that they understand and understand the importance of consuming vegetables for health. In addition, we emphasize capacity building for Indonesian farmers, including for young farmers. We are optimistic that through this sustainable activity, we can support the progress of Indonesian horticultural agriculture,” concluded Afrizal Gindow.