Pendampingan Adopsi Teknologi Pupuk Batubara melalui Demplot Partisipatif pada Budidaya Cabai di Kelompok Tani Subur Makmur, Kutai Kartanegara

Abstract

Chili is a strategic horticultural commodity that contributes to food price fluctuations and national inflation in Indonesia. At the farmer level, chili productivity is constrained by high dependence on inorganic fertilizers and declining soil quality. This community engagement program aimed to assist farmers in introducing and applying coal-based fertilizer technology through a participatory demonstration plot approach in chili cultivation. The activity was conducted from August to December 2024 at the Subur Makmur Farmer Group, Kutai Kartanegara Regency. The methods included socialization, technical training, demonstration plot implementation, and field assistance throughout one planting season. Farmers were directly involved in cultivation activities, plant growth observations, and harvest evaluation.The results showed that the participatory demonstration plot approach improved farmers’ understanding and confidence in using coal-based fertilizer as an alternative to reduce chemical fertilizer use. Chili plants under different fertilization practices showed relatively stable growth and production while providing opportunities for improving production cost efficiency. In addition to functioning as a medium for technology transfer, the demonstration plot also became a shared learning space between farmers and the assisting team in understanding more sustainable fertilization practices.