Community Empowerment as an Initiation in the Effort to Develop Climate Villages Through the Production and Utilization of Family Medicinal Plants (TOGA) in Melak Ulu Village, Melak District, West Kutai Regency

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Sebagai Inisiasi Dalam Upaya Pengembangan Kampung Iklim Melalui Pembuatan dan Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan Obat Keluarga (TOGA) di Kelurahan Melak Ulu, Kecamatan Melak, Kabupaten Kutai Barat

Abstract

This community service program aims to address environmental degradation caused by open waste burning in Melak Ulu Village, West Kutai. This practice not only pollutes the air but also damages soil quality and threatens public health. As a solution, this Community Empowerment program initiated efforts to develop Climate Villages through the rehabilitation of land affected by waste fires. The focus of the activity is to establish a Family Medicinal Plant Garden (TOGA), which serves a dual function as an ecological, social, and economic solution. The methods applied include clearing the land of inorganic waste, improving soil quality with the addition of compost and lime, and planting various types of medicinal plants such as turmeric, ginger, and Dayak onions. The results showed significant improvements in the physical and chemical conditions of the soil, which went from dry to more fertile. Socially, this program succeeded in increasing the understanding and skills of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) women's group in the cultivation and use of TOGA. The benefits are not limited to health through natural herbal remedies, but also open new economic opportunities through the processing of products based on medicinal plants. This program demonstrates that a participatory approach can be an effective model for sustainable development, creating a healthier environment and a more empowered community.