Hydroponic training opens urban farming business opportunities
Temanggung - The Vocational Training Centre (BLK) of the Temanggung Regency Industry and Manpower Office, Central Java, is creating new business opportunities for the younger generation through hydroponic farming training based on urban farming principles.
The Regent of Temanggung, Agus Setyawan, stated in Temanggung on Thursday that the hydroponic training is an effort to enhance the skills of the youth, enabling them to utilise the potential available in their surrounding environments.
The training, attended by 16 participants, provides practical skills in cultivating plants without soil, serving as a productive business alternative amidst the limitations of available agricultural land.
During the training, participants received material ranging from the fundamentals of hydroponics, practical installation construction, and plant nutrient management to maintenance and the harvesting process.
According to the Regent, the hydroponic method allows the community to develop cultivation activities despite having limited land, including by utilising home gardens.
He noted that the training is part of the local government’s efforts to produce competent workers while encouraging the emergence of new entrepreneurs in the agribusiness sector.
“This is certainly our endeavour to increase the expertise of our youth through tobacco excise revenue sharing funds. The hope is that after this, they can be independent, open businesses, and increase their income, which will certainly drive economic growth in Temanggung,” he said.
He expressed hope that the skills acquired by participants during the training could be applied sustainably to provide economic benefits for both themselves and the community.
He assessed that the development of hydroponic farming could serve as an alternative productive economic activity that does not always depend on the availability of vast agricultural land.
One of the training participants, Muhammad Zainuri, stated that hydroponic cultivation offers several advantages, particularly regarding land-use efficiency and fertiliser management.
According to him, the skills gained during the training provide new knowledge regarding cultivation techniques that can be developed into business opportunities.
During the activity, participants were also introduced to various plant commodities that have the potential to be cultivated using hydroponic systems.