Harvesting Fruits and Flowers of Togetherness in Surabaya
The coronavirus has infected more than 16,000 people in Surabaya since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the city eight months ago.
The coronavirus has infected more than 16,000 people in Surabaya since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the city eight months ago. However, life continues, producing fruits and flowers of togetherness that liberate the citizens.
In the midst of the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, the Surabaya city administration, East Java, continues the Surabaya Smart City program, which is a village planning competition at the community level.
The activity encourages people to be creative and promote cooperation among residents to make their villages become a comfortable place to live in and economically productive as well.
At 5.30 in the morning on Sunday (8/11/2020), sweat had already covered the face of Kahono (67), a resident of North Medokanayu, as he arranged and put compost into small sacks to sell.
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Making compost has become a daily routine of the retired state enterprise (BUMN) employee who lives in the RT 002 RW 012 North Medokanayu community unit, Rungkut, Surabaya. He also cultivates hydroponic plants in his yard.
Kahono and other residents of North Medokanayu use unused land in the community to grow flowers and vegetables. The urban farming activities have encouraged the residents to create more confortable environments and strengthen social relationships, reduce stress and channel hobbies, which can also bring economic benefits.
During the pandemic, the government encourages the residents to continue such activities so that more residents can use the yards of their homes for farming activities.
The urban agriculture in the city had begun even before the pandemic with many residents growing vegetables to meet their daily needs. During the pandemic, the government encourages the residents to continue such activities so that more residents can use the yards of their homes for farming activities.
The chairman of the Surabaya hydroponic village, Reni Susilawati, said that many benefits could be obtained from hydroponic vegetable cultivation.
Apart from fulfilling one\'s own needs, as well as a cure for stress and tension, growing hydroponic vegetables also brings an economic benefit because the vegetable can be sold. "From the harvest in a hydroponic farming location, earnings can reach Rp 1 million a month, with farming costs of no more than Rp 200,000,” he said.
The hydroponic cultivation is very easy and cheap. Everyone can start such a farming activity with using used items, for example, used mineral water bottles or used plastic containers. The residents can use their yard or even the walls of their house to grow the hydroponic vegetables. "We plant vegetables on the walls of the residents. It’s fun and can create cool atmosphere as the village becomes green and fresh," said Reni.
Catfish and dragon fruit
Residents of the RW 005 community unit in Wisma Kedung Asem, Kedungbaruk, Rungkut, also have the same activities. They also used their yards and residential land for the cultivation of catfish and dragon fruit.
The residents grew, among others, flowers and dragon fruit. Now there are about 200 hylocereus undatus dragon fruit trees originating from Mexico in their residential area. They not only sell fresh dragon fruit from their community garden but also sell them in forms of processed fruit.
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In order to ensure the success of the cultivation, each resident has their own task. Some take care of plants, become members of the karawitan (traditional art group), or develop a food business and process the fruit so that they have added value. "The togetherness in the community can be maintained, while the village becomes beautiful and healthy," the head of the RW 005 Wisma Kedung Asem community unit, Didik Eko Susilo, said.
The residents of the Wisma Kedung Asem also set up a stall for anyone who wants to enjoy food and drinks.
"The stalls with all the food and drink are made by the residents. So, the village is healthy and the residents are prosperous, ”said Didik.
Meanwhile, residents of the RW 003 Ketintang community unit, Gayungan, Surabaya, have grown many kinds of medicinal plants in their residential areas for many years. Ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, aloe vera, and lime are among the plants they have been cultivating for the last decade. These plants are processed into herbal drinks.
"We are also still continuing the early childhood learning program at the RW 003 community hall to entertain and help children carry out online learning," the head of the RT 002 RW 003 community unit, Andry Herdianto, said.
Social capital
Managing the environment and maintaining togetherness among residents by developing various social activities as well as improving the residents’ economy have become a necessity for Surabaya residents.
The mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini, said that more residents should be encouraged and involved in developing their residential areas according to the concept of a smart city in which the main objective is to promote social relations. The culture of mutual cooperation should be further maintained by promoting the relationship of residents. The residents should know, greet, care each other so that they can be involved to take care of the village according to their preferences or character.
The togetherness among the residents to organize and protect the environment and help each other economically also improved during the Covid-19 pandemic. Residents were responsive and helpful to those contracted with the disease. They also took care all the needs of the infected residents during their self-quarantine at home.
The concept of a smart city, according to Risma, is intended to help the community at the smallest level, namely RT / RW neighborhood unit in managing their resources more efficiently. If the citizens are united, the potential for education, sports, business, as well as arts and culture can be developed together.
The concept of a smart city at the smallest level is also intended to promote togetherness and solidarity among residents. Those are the fruits and flowers of togetherness that can be obtained, apart from flowers and fruit in the literal sense.