UMB Develops Waste Management and Local Food Programme in Pondok Kelor Village

Universitas Mercu Buana (UMB) is developing a community empowerment model in Pondok Kelor Village, Sepatan Timur District, Tangerang Regency, through community-based waste management, strengthening local food enterprises, and a moringa planting movement. The programme is intended to address waste issues while simultaneously reviving the moringa plant as the village’s identity. The programme has entered the implementation phase after UMB handed over various Appropriate Technology (TTG) equipment to the Pondok Kelor Village Youth Organisation (Karang Taruna) and a local food business group under the Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes) on Friday (10/7/2026). The handover marks the beginning of the implementation of an empowerment system that has been prepared through mentoring since April 2026. Head of the UMB Assisted Village Empowerment Programme Team, Desiana Vidayanti, stated that the technology provided is part of a system designed to be managed independently by the community. “Today is not just about handing over equipment, but the start of implementing a system we have built together with the community. We hope waste management becomes more organised, local food businesses develop, and the identity of Pondok Kelor Village as a moringa village can be revived,” said Desiana in a statement on Tuesday (14/7/2026). Pondok Kelor Village is a rapidly growing peri-urban area that has not yet had an organised waste management system. On the other hand, the moringa plant, which was once a characteristic of the village, is increasingly rare and has not been optimally utilised as a food source or economic potential. To address these issues, the Youth Organisation received support for community-based waste management technology along with mentoring for the moringa planting movement. Meanwhile, the local food business group received production equipment and mentoring in business management, financial literacy, and product quality improvement. The programme is run by a multidisciplinary UMB team led by Desiana Vidayanti together with Dewi Murtiningsih, Oties T. Tsarwan, and Sri Hesti from Dian Nusantara University (Undira). UMB students are also involved as facilitators in training, mentoring, monitoring, and evaluation activities. Pondok Kelor Village Head Junaedi said the programme addresses the community’s need for an integrated waste management system, which has been lacking. “We hope the mentoring from UMB will be the beginning of a system that can be run independently by the community so that the benefits can be felt in the long term,” said Junaedi. The Assisted Village Empowerment Programme is designed to last for three years. In the first year, activities are focused on building a waste management system, the moringa planting movement, and strengthening local food business groups. The next stage is directed at business development and institutional strengthening so that the programme can run independently. Through this programme, UMB hopes that Pondok Kelor Village will not only have a better waste management system but also be able to revive moringa as the village’s identity while strengthening food security and the community’s economy. This empowerment model is expected to serve as an example for other peri-urban villages facing similar issues.