Yomita Misya, a student of the Agricultural Microbiology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), introduced “corn tempeh” as an innovation in local food development in Gedong Jetis Village, Tulung District, Klaten Regency, Central Java. This activity was part of the Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) “Tulang Tulung” Team, which focuses on addressing extreme poverty in the region.
According to the coordinator of the Gedong Jetis subunit, Aldara Fatiyah (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, 2022), corn is the main agricultural commodity in Gedong Jetis Village.
“There are plenty of cornfields in Gedong Jetis, and the farmers are abundant as well. However, until now the harvest has only been sold as livestock feed without further processing,” she explained.
Responding to this condition, Yomita initiated a training program on corn tempeh production. She explained that the process of making corn tempeh is not much different from soybean tempeh, which also uses Rhizopus sp. as a starter culture. The main difference lies in the boiling and soaking stages of the corn kernels.
The training targeted women members of the Family Welfare Empowerment (PKK) group with the aim of fostering new skills that could potentially become opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The program received positive appreciation from various parties, including Deddy Tuhono, Head of Gedong Jetis Village.
“Hopefully this education will encourage the women to be more creative, starting by opening small businesses,” he said.
The participants’ enthusiasm was very high; one resident even requested to take home and taste the corn tempeh that had been made. Under the supervision of Nurul Alvia Istiqomah, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., as the Field Supervisor (DPL), this program supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Writer: Yomita Misya
Editor: Desi Utami
Photo: UGM KKN-PPM 2024 “Tulang Tulung” Team