A new hope for the agricultural sector has emerged from Tasikmalaya Village in the Sukabumi District of Malang Regency. The issues of declining soil productivity and environmental quality are being addressed through a product developed by a research team from Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed). Led by Prof. Ir. Kharisun, Ph.D., this team, in collaboration with local farmers, is implementing an agricultural innovation research program that incorporates the use of Mco fertilizer.
Mr. Nono, one of the partners in the program, shared that he and local farmers had the chance to test Mco fertilizer directly. This fertilizer is not yet widely available on the market as it is still in the process of obtaining distribution permits. He initiated trials on 50 plots of land as part of a pilot project. According to him, the results were quite satisfactory. “Compared to regular urea fertilizer, the results from Mco fertilizer are better,” Mr. Nono stated during an interview on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Mco fertilizer comes in granules that resemble urea fertilizer and has the advantage of being more durable. Unlike regular urea fertilizer, which tends to dissolve quickly, Mco fertilizer can remain in solid form in the soil for four to five days. Additionally, it is very easy to use—farmers can simply sprinkle it directly onto the soil.
This program began with a recommendation from Mr. Mujiono, a lecturer at Unsoed, who helped bring the research team together with local farmers. To ensure the program’s success, the Unsoed lecturer team provided direct training to the farmers. Initially, four farmers participated in the program. Seeing the promising results, other farmers became interested in trying it, especially after hearing positive testimonials from neighbors who had already experienced its benefits.
This program not only fosters collaboration between lecturers and farmers but also includes a number of Unsoed students who participate in the field as part of their community service and direct monitoring activities. They assist in documenting crop development, monitoring environmental conditions, and providing additional education to local farmers.
Limited distribution of fertilizers poses a challenge; however, the enthusiasm and spirit among the farmers continue to grow. Mr. Nono hopes that this program can be further developed, particularly through broader cooperation with farmer groups. “We used to have difficulty obtaining fertilizer. The availability of MCO fertilizer from Unsoed has been very helpful. I hope this program can continue and reach more farmers so that they can also benefit from it,” he said enthusiastically.
The experiences of Mr. Nono and farmers from a village in Malang Regency demonstrate that support from universities in research positively impacts sustainable agricultural development. It is hoped that this can serve as a model for collaboration between academics and farmers, which not only enhances farmer productivity but also helps preserve the environment.
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