Farmer Empowerment through Bokashi Fertilizer Innovation to Support Sustainable Agriculture in Bea Village, Muna Regency

Abstract

This community service program aims to enhance the capacity of farmers in Bea Village, Muna Regency, through the application of innovative techniques for producing organic compost/bokashi as an effort to support sustainable agriculture. The main challenges faced by the farmers include limited access to high-quality organic fertilizers and a strong dependence on chemical fertilizers, which increase production costs and reduce long-term soil fertility. The program activities consisted of socialization on environmentally friendly agricultural practices, technical training on bokashi production using locally available organic waste, and continued mentoring to ensure the quality of the final product. A participatory approach was employed through demonstrations, group discussions, and evaluation of hands-on practice. The results indicate a significant improvement in farmers' knowledge and skills in processing organic waste into bokashi, accompanied by increased awareness of the importance of organic fertilizers for soil health restoration. Farmers were able to produce bokashi independently, which may reduce input costs and improve land productivity. This program is expected to serve as a sustainable empowerment model that can be adopted by other villages in Muna Regency to promote the development of organic agriculture.