Visiting Pondok Kelapa 05 Morning Elementary School, The Ministry Of Public Works Socializes The FONi Irrigation System

Head of the Irrigation Engineering Center of the Directorate General of Water Resources at the Ministry of Public Works, Dery Indrawan. Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - The Irrigation Technical Center of the Directorate General of Water Resources of the Ministry of Public Works (PU) conducted a socialization of the introduction of Water Saving Technology with a Non-Governmental Automated Fertigator (FONi) at SDN Pondok Kelapa 05 Pagi, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, Wednesday, August 13.

Head of the Irrigation Engineering Center of the Directorate General of Water Resources, Ministry of Public Works, Dery Indrawan, said SDN 05 Pondok Kelapa 05 Pagi was chosen because his party saw that there was already pipe irrigation that had been installed in the surrounding plant.

"If I look at it, it seems that the Principal and his friends here like to plant. This is actually technology, I think pipe irrigation is installed above," said Dery at the location.

"Will we develop it further later, yes, later use water from the rain. So, from the rain water we channel it to the pipes, so that the rainwater will not inundate the yard," he continued.

Therefore, Dery also introduced the FONi irrigation system, especially to schools.

The FONi is an automated irrigation system that works without electricity. This system takes advantage of the principle of related vessels, so that water and nutrients in the system are always maintained and balanced between plant pots.

Bearing in mind, it is connected to the reservoir tank which is also the water level controller and uses subsurface irrigation.

FONi reflects the face of today's farmers, namely not dirty, not slum and not dull. With this system, farming becomes cleaner, more practical and modern.

"So, farmers are no longer a dirty thing now. Because we can take advantage of the dry land that exists, we don't need a large area of land, but how will my little FONi clean the plants, save the water, but also cool the farmers," said Dery.

According to Dery, the FONi irrigation system is suitable for use in urban areas. The reason is, it does not require electricity. Thus, it is suitable for open land, even on the roof of the school or the yard area of the house.

"Maybe in the future this technology can be used by all the younger siblings here, the results can be harvested (although) not too much and in the future these younger siblings can all be cool farmers," he concluded.