Technology Transfer of Chrysanthemum Cultivation in Disaster Area of Mount Merapi To Improve People Revenue

Abstract

Chrysanthemum flowers are a main income source of surrounding communities of Hargobinangun. Hargobinangun became the main cut flower's supplier to the province of Yogyakarta before the Merapi’s eruption. However, due to the shortage of cut flower production, currently those have to be imported from other areas such as Cipanas, Pasuruan and Malang. One of the production’s obstacles is the environmental damage. Soil in planting area was covered by thick sand and volcanic ash from Mount Merapi eruption. Research and transfer of technology has been carried out by R & D team of Universities Pembangunan National “Veteran” Yogyakarta (UPNVY). The technologies of amelioran's addition to the soil in the disaster areas was using simple techniques, inexpensive and available materials from surrounding farmers site, such as manure, bamboo leaf litter and garden’s compost. The materials were initially fermented by using PGPR that were produced by R & D UPNVY. In addition, application of horticultural mineral oil (HMO) was performed to avoid white rust infection. The results showed the increase of soil fertility and plant growth significantly which is expressed by the increase of plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area after application of ameliorant. The quality of cut flowers also increased in the form of the increase of flower diameter, and numbers of ribbon flower. The application at the farm level showed that farmers have no difficulty in using Enkas, although it is still necessary to conduct further training and mentoring to increase the success rate.