Building Community Engagement: The Case of Socialization of Biophory Infiltration Hole and Urban Farming in Rw 07 of Cibeureum – Cimahi City
Hilwati Hindersah1, Puti Renosori2 - 1Lecturer – Urban and Regional Planning Department, 2Lecturer - Industrial Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Bandung Islamic University, Indonesia
[email protected]; [email protected] Introduction
1.
Solving contemporary problems faced by a community requires a form of participation based on their common conviction and spirit to achieve a better life. Community participation, however, is neither a panacea nor a total solution for social change. Participation means the collaboration of people pursuing objectives that they themselves have defined (Sanoff, 2000).
Learn from the success of community groups in building, as example its economic living, there are main good principles which have been agreed upon to lead the life of a community for the better. Those principles are the principle of justice, participation, cooperation, collaboration and interdependensi. A healthy community maintain the positive thing and creating abundance be good thing that life become qualified (Hindersah, 2007). Further, Peter Block (2008) argues that community offers the promise of belonging and calls for us to acknowledge our interdependence. To belong is to act as an investor, owner, and creator of this place. Therefore, building community engagement means building sense of belonging.
The environment problem facing RW 07 of Cibeureum is solved with application of effective technology which is appropriate and suitable. Then, the case of Socialization of Biopori Infiltration Hole and Urban Farming is able to empower local community to solve their problem. This socialization give the community understanding that the program give benefit to the community. In turn, the benefit bring in the sense of belonging and increase the spirit of mutual cooperation and collaboration.
Program Description
The condition of groundwater resources in RW 07 of Cibeureum – Cimahi City is dwindling due to lack of catchment area caused by development of housing and road that made the soil being impermeable. Ground water is highly needed in the area since the population density is very high with no support of drinking water taps. Many residents experience lack of clean water during dry seasons. They must buy water (see Figure 1) to fulfill their daily needs of clean water since there has no municipal water installation to the area. Furthermore, decreasing water catchment area has resulted in lower and lower level of water table in that area. Currently, the community of Cibeureum village and other villages along the Cibeureum River Valley (DAS) fulfill their water needs through either open or drilled water wells.
On the other hand, during the rainy season, there were big flooding at Mukodar street (main street at RT 1 & RT 5) almost every time heavy rains happened. Because of declining geographic terrain, the flooding current flowed swiftly up to 50 cm height. Flooding on certain areas were also due to insufficient capacity of the drainage. Puddles, as shown at Figure 2, were often found on the road and on house yards and cause the road being broken.
Figure 2: Flooding and its impact
Based on the preliminary findings and the information provided by the Head of Cibeureum Village, about 70% of the community houses have no open spaces or have their open spaces covered with concrete, about 25% have relatively small open spaces (2 – 10 m2) and only about 5% of the houses have more than 10 m2 open spaces.
Almost all the roads in Cibeureum Village are hardened / concreted, either self-supported or by the government funding, in order to avoid puddles during the rainy seasons or dusty during the dry seasons. However, hardened road make less available area of water infiltration.
It is believed that climate change has caused high precipitation during recent years of rainy seasons. Affluent rain water is considered valuable resources that should be conserved. This is in line with the view of Agus et.al. (in Subagyono et.al. 2002) that efficient utilization of rain water run-off on soil surface is an act of conservation. It is expected that increasing the infiltration of water to the soil will increase the volume of ground water and to avoid decreasing level or to maintain the level or even more to make swallower level of water surface that can be utilized especially during the dry seasons.
For that reasons, it believed that direct education through extension service is needed to change the paradigm of managing rain drop water from fastly channeling the water flow through the drainage system, to maximizing the infiltration of water to the soil by inviting the community to participate in making and installing biophori infiltration hole (BIH) or Lubang Resapan Biopori (LRB). The BIH method is chosen because it is one of the appropriate technology suitable for limited spaces, it is easy to implement and it is relatively low cost. In addition, there are several benefits of using BIH, including (1) prevention of flood, (2) as organic waste sewerage, (3) making the soil more fertile, and (4) improving water quality (Pusat Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup, 2013). To utilize the compost as the product of composting the organic waste by the BIH, urban farming program is also proposed along the way.
The purpose of urban farming activities is to empower the community in utilizing the land spaces by cultivating various culture that can meet the daily household need for food. Iritani (2012) state that self-consuming of self- cultivating of the vegetables can be a pride since we can harvest and directly consume in fresh condition.
The main constrain of urban area is the limited amount of available unutilized land, so it is necessary to have a cultivation system that can save the use of land while remain capable of producing healthy and quality vegetables.
Cultiviting in polybag, pot chamber and verticulture are methods to overcome such limitation, since the methods do not need extensive land area. In addition the resulting produce can be larger and better quality compared with that of the larger land area (Supriati & Wijaya, 2011).
Through urban farming program, the inhabitants can better feel the benefits of the program. When the inhabitant feel the benefit they will voluntarily implement the program, which in turn will maintain the program for its sustainability.
Furthermore, it is expected that the community of RW 7 will make real contribution in reducing the flood calamity by reducing the amount of rain water run-off.
Program Objectives
The objectives of Socialization of Biopori Infiltration Hole (BIH) and Urban Farming Program are to introduce its technology and its benefits that can improve water absorption into the soil as well as to increase people awareness to live in healthy environment.
BIH and Urban Farming have several advantages:
Efficient technology 1.
Easy to do 2.
Relatively cheap 3.
Environmentally friendly 4.
Can produce fertilizer that can be sold or used by themselves.
5.
Use small area 6.
Support family food 7.
Program Implementation
The location of the program are determined at small area that are close to the flooding location. The area are RT 01, 02, and 05 of RW 07. To achieve the objective of this Community Service activity, the following steps are implemented (Renosori and Hindersah, 2014a):
Preliminary Study by conducting direct field survey to observe the real condition of the environment and 1.
to undertake dialog with and interviews related parties and stakeholders, such as Chairwoman of the Family Wellbeing Association (PKK), Chairman of the Hamlet, Chairman of the Neighbourhoods, and other community leaders.
Training Preparation: designing pre-test, post-test and extension materials.
2.
Socialization and training: Socialization and training were conducted prior to field practice. The purpose 3.
of training, besides program socialization, is to improve the community’s – especially the house wives – knowledge and motivation to implement the program.
The practice of making BIH, which consist of the following activities:
4.
Determining the appropriate locations and numbers of the BIH.
•
The making of BIHs
•
The maintenance of BIHs
•
The practice of urban farming. Urban farming is undertaken by planting vegetables in polybags, pot 5.
chamber and verticulture method to overcome the problem where the planting area is limited. Verticulture planting system is a system of planting in the pot arranged/assembled stratified horizontally and vertically.
Soil treatment of this system is not much different from that of planting in garden or in plantation, however the advantage of this system is that it produces maximum result with limited land spaces. (Wijaya, 2012).
Evaluating the impact of training and practice of making and installing BIHs and of urban farming
6. . The
first evaluation is conducted by comparing the pretest and posttest results to measure the success of knowledge transfer. The second evluation is conducted by data collection and direct observation on the practice of maintaining the BIHs as well as the plantation and to identify and remedy the obstacle faced in field, and the impact of community empowerment.
Socialization of the program to RW 07 Officials.
In the first step, the purpose of the socialization activity of BIH and urban farming was conveyed to the management of RW 07. It appeared that the management of RW 07 responded positively. They even asked that the BIH to be installed in the whole area of RW 07.
The socialization of BIH and urban farming to the community was carried out prior to the practice of making and installing the BIH and urban farming activities in the field with the objective of providing the community with the necessary knowledge on BIH and plant cultivation (vegetables, TOGA and mosquito repellent) including their benefit, so that they are motivated to actively participate in making, installing and maintaining the BIHs as well as in planting and nurturing the plants. The socialization is mostly addressed to housewives. There are four groups invited to the socialization program. The groups are Women member of RT 01, 02, 05, PKK cadres and the youth (Karang Taruna) organization.
Figure 3. Participants: Women Members of RT 01 & RT 05
Figure 4. Participants: PKK Cadres & Youth Organization & do pretest The making of 540 BIHs at RT 01 & RT 05
In the first stage, 40 BIHs were made, which consist of two type: the first type being biophory cover using concrete pipe block, and the second type being PVC pipe with drilled hole cover. The picture of both types of BIH cover can be seen on Figure 5.
Figure 5: Stage 1 : 40 BIH with cup type 1 & Stage 2 : 500 BIH with cup type 2
After having observed both types of BIH cover, the Community Service team and the management of RW 07 agreed to choose the making of BIH of the second type because it is neat and easier to make. The BIHs were made and installed in the house yards of as required by the member of the community, in the gutter drain as well as on the streets. If the BIHs were made in the house yard of the community members, they determined the location of BIHs because they know better where the location of the puddles. Meanwhile, if the BIHs were to be made on the street, the location were determined through the discussion among the member of the RW management, RT management and the community members who know the more appropriate location.
Figure 6: Equipment Preparation & Making of BIH
Before BIH execution at RW 07 there is mutual cooperation to clean drainage channel, as seen in Figure 7. This activity actually is not as part of the program. However the emergence of this voluntary activity provide an indication that the community can be engaged in any program that will provide benefits to them.
Figure 7: Community Engagement : to clean drainage channel Urban farming activity at 2 pilot project location.
The planting were undertaken both individually and collectively. Currently, there has been two groups of urban farming. Planting in the house yards usually carried out by individuals in their own houses. Group planting were undertaken along the streets. They prepare more than 500 vegetable seed plants in polybag, family medicinal plants (TOGA) and other useful plants such as mosquito repellent plants.
Before implementing the planting in the field, technical briefings on how to do the planting were conducted such as how to mix soil with fertilizer and the preparation of polybag to place the seed as practiced by Group I as shown in Figure 8. Various types of vegetables for daily consumption were planted, such as: watercress, spinach, eggplant, tomato, pakcoy, caisim etc..
Figure 8: Group I - Land mixed fertilizer & Add polybag hole so that water not flooded
Vegetable planting and harvesting activities were jointly undertaken by the community have created the atmosphere of family spirit of joy and mutual help. This is shown in the activity of Group II in Figure 9.
Figure 9: Together Plant Vegetable & harvest it with Head Officer of RW 07
Plants were also planted verticulturally using pots a wall or the hanging pots. There were also plants on the polybag that were put on wooden shelves as seen in Figure 10. The vine plants were creeped on the wall using wires.
Mosquitos repellent plants include zodia, lavender, rosmery and lemon grass, while family medicinal plants were planted according to need and expectation of the women members. The type of family medicinal plants include aluevera, turmeric, ginger, binahong etc. All create a beautiful community garden.
Figure 10: Plant placed on a shelf bamboo and Pots are posted in empty walls Program Sustainability
Sustainability of the program has been done by keeping BIH and urban farming to remain functioning. To do this, there are several activity. Maintenance of BIH has been made. BIH is cleaned up regularly so that it is not covered with dirt that can inhibit rainy water into BIH.
Plants maintenance were carried out regularly by watering, fertilizing, and weeding to keep the plants thrives. Plant watering were done in turn among the community member, especially when there were no rain as shown in Figure 11. Pest control were undertaken by spraying insecticide. In addition, groups of women members of the community clean and weed out the grass from the street every Friday and Sunday, they call it Jumsih (Jum’at bersih) and Mingsih (Minggu bersih).
For the long term, awareness to care the environment should begin by involving Young Kids. For example the kids can learn how to plant or they can learn various type of plants.
Figure 11: Have watering timetable and Kids learn how to plant
The sustainability of the program is well running. This happen because all members of the community has caring spirit for their environment getting better (Renosori and Hindersah, 2014b). This spirit expand to other community awareness
Conclusions
The program which is carried out by university as service activity, is Socialization of Biopori Infiltration Hole (BIH) and Urban farming. In fact, as Sannof (2000) mentions, the program is participation which involve local people in
beside the program benefit the community is also have surprise outcome. The program expand community awareness.
Findings
Making BIH at right location such as near guttering, reduce flooding and puddles on house yards in
̅ RW 07
Coaching and practice of BIH can increase women capacity to manage waste become value-added products
̅
such as fertilizer. On the turn, can be used to support urban farming so that environment become more healthy.
Lots of Urban Farming benefit:
̅
Consume fresh vegetable –
Support family medicinal plants (
– TOGA) and other useful plants such as mosquito repellent plants Create community garden that make environment look beautiful and greening
–
The Impact: Expand Community Awareness
The community getting more solid, enhance community self-help, mutual cooperation and warm kinship.
̅
This create social capital which can facilitate further collective action on issues of other local importance.
Community engagement create social cohesiveness
Socialization of Biopori Infiltration Hole and Urban Farming to other community more widely outside RW
̅
07 could be done. Several guests have already ask for information about the program.
References
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