Students from Universitas Diponegoro have successfully developed an “Automated Irrigation System” (PETIS) for the Sustainable Food Home Gardens of the Women Farmer Group (KWT) in Ponowaren Village, Tawangsari Subdistrict, Sukoharjo Regency in January 2024. This tool was developed as part of the students’ dedication to the Community Service Program, Team 1, Universitas Diponegoro 2024. It is known that the KWT “Tani Makmur” Land in Ponowaren Village has entered the foster village program of the PKK Group in Tawangsari Subdistrict. This program is expected to equip the Women Farmer Group in Ponowaren Village for the KWT garden competition scheduled for mid-2024.
Leveraging the potential of Ponowaren Village, the Sustainable Food Home Garden: Women Farmer Group (KWT) “Tani Makmur” is a tangible manifestation of the agricultural and plantation results from the 4 hamlets in Ponowaren Village. This KWT land serves as a sustainable food home garden, cultivating various crops and vegetables such as tomatoes, aloe vera, chili, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, turmeric, papaya, banana, spinach, and others. This potential has given the KWT PKK Movement Team, especially the Working Group (Pokja) 3 of PKK Ponowaren, the opportunity to compete at the sub-district and regency levels in April/May. However, challenges and problems arose from the potential, particularly in terms of land cleanliness, plant and vegetable fertility, and discipline in monitoring and periodic watering of plants.
Village officials, Community Service Program Field Supervisors, and student, Bernard Kenny Poya – an Electrical Engineering student at Universitas Diponegoro
In response, the Village Officials, Community Service Program Field Supervisor (DPL), and student, Bernard Kenny Poya – an Electrical Engineering student at Universitas Diponegoro, designed and created an integrated PETIS (Automated Irrigation System) to be periodically controlled. The system features an effective and efficient watering mechanism, making it easier for KWT to monitor, water, and maintain the sustainability and fertility of the crops in the KWT land. The process began with the construction of the combiner box frame made of lightweight steel, as shown in the accompanying image. The empty combiner box was then mounted upright on the frame using bolts, rings, and rivets. Once the panel was installed, the Dual Pump DC pump was placed below the combiner box as the water channel header and used for spraying, secured with bolts drilled through.
The Process of Creating the Irrigation System and Electrical Components of PETIS
The next steps included connecting the designed electrical components, such as the Power Supply, Socket, and Potentiometer, according to the Single Line Diagram standard. The connected components were then placed inside the Panel Box and tightly sealed to prevent water/rain from entering during assembly. The water distribution system, using bamboo supports for the hose, was adjusted for the 6 watering points in the KWT land. The end of the hose featured mist nozzles made of brass and plastic, matching the diameter of each hose. For automatic watering control at scheduled intervals, a timer switch was installed with a socket (PLN). In the final stage, the PETIS product was further developed by adding a water channel maintenance system using the flushing method at the watering end to prevent blockages by using Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) 50%.
The designed PETIS system was successfully implemented in the field according to the user’s needs, addressing the challenges faced by the village residents. The success of the product and system was supported by a reliable electrical circuit, hose installation, and a watering system that did not result in equipment errors or failures, demonstrated by the product’s operation for 3 days without causing damage. This program was presented at the Plenary Meeting of the PKK Mother’s Group and then validated and appreciated by the PKK Mother’s Group, especially Working Group 3 (Pokja 3), responsible for the Sustainable Food Home Garden of the Women Farmer Group (KWT) “Tani Makmur” in Ponowaren Village. The impact of this appreciation from the PKK Mother’s Group and Pokja 3 is that the product will be one of the supporting elements in participating in the KWT competition at the Tawangsari Subdistrict level, Sukoharjo Regency in April to May 2024.
Mrs. Sarmi, as the Chairwoman of KWT, expressed her happiness and appreciation for this multidisciplinary program, stating, “I hope this tool continues to be useful and helps the PKK mothers, especially Pokja 3 and KWT, in monitoring plants that have been optimized with this automatic watering system.” Continuing the appreciation from the PKK Mother’s Chairwoman, Mrs. Sari also expressed joy and gratitude for the product that has been implemented in the KWT land since January 25, 2024, saying, “Hopefully, with the PETIS system, it can be one of the strengthening factors for us PKK mothers in participating in the upcoming competition in April.” Tips on using the product, in the form of a poster given to PKK representatives and displayed in the KWT land, can facilitate users (PKK Mothers, Youth Organization, Village Residents) in using the product easily and simply. Direct training on product usage for users was also conducted clearly and in detail to enhance user understanding of the functions, usage, and sustainability of the system that can be optimized even better.
Implementation of the PETIS Product Results
Recent Comments