pengetahuanhijau.com, West Nusa Tenggara – One of the source of competitive advantage or competitive edge of a region is innovation. This advantage shall be consistently promoted by the Local Administratives of North Lombok Regency by emphasising the direction of local development on the enhancement of local potential as the key supporter in implementing economic-based development. It is undeniable that technological advancement has prompted the birth of various innovation, which we often call technological-based innovation. However, in addition, it is important to know that non-technological knowledge enhancement is the major force in driving the innovation. Knowledge applied for innovation becomes increasingly compounded along with the transformation of values and practices within the community.

One of the forms of innovation can be discovered in Sentul Asli Hamlet, Pendua Village. Initially this village utilised cattle manures as a source of alternative energy in a substitute of LPG. The introduction of biogas was carried out by the local administrative in collaboration with BIRU (Domestic Biogas) Programme. Pandua Village and several other villages in North Lombok Regency have been targeted as region receiving the supports. However, the interests of the local community to utilise cattle manures are fairly high thus almost all of the houses are equipped with Biogas reactor. It is no wonder that Pendua Village, specifically Sentul Asli Hamlet fetched the title as Energy Independent Village in 2016.

Now the utilisation of cattle manures in Pendua Village is not limited solely as the source of energy, howver, bio slurry is also utilised as organic fertiliser. It is utilised as fertiliser both in its liquid and solid form. The application of the fertiliser in most of the farmlands which cultivate the horticultures. The use of fertilisers have been pioneered by HORSEPEN (Horticulture of Sentul Pendua) Farmers Group which is now developing organic farming.

Up to this point, what have been implemented by the community at Sentul Asli have also been discovered elsewhere. However, knowledge-based technology, has not reached the end yet. Mentoring performed by Hivos and Yayasan Rumah Energi through GADING Programme funded by MCA Indonesia during the recent months have transformed the community mindset to consistently develop and utilising local resources they have already owned. In fact, the community at Sentul Asli has long been dreaming to develop a freshwater aquaculture, as they see the abundant water supply. However, the high price of fish feed as well as lack of accessibility to the capital of the subdistrict have prevented them from bringing their dream into reality.

“Nothing is impossible under this sky,” Pak Alwan revealed while opening his story about the development of the hamlet under his leadership. Our dream to develop freshwater aquaculture shall not be dismissed by the high prices of fish feed. Understanding and training on the utilisation of local resources as the source of feed which we obtain from our friends in GADING have revived our dream. Simply imagine, Kembang Aiq (Duckweed), one of the source of feed with very high protein content are plentiful in our place.

Initially we consider the plant as an unwanted wild plant surrounding the rice paddy or water spinach. Now the crop is available at ponds specifically prepared for cultivation purposes. Following the trial at ponds belonging to Horsepen group, following the progress of fish growth after being fed by Duckweed, fish ponds and duckweed ponds are now easily found in the community lawns.

Then, what are the correlation between biogas and slurry? Yes, of course there is. Following the utilisation of bio slurry (biogas sludge) in its solid form by the community in Sentul Asli, they have now also utilised the bio slurry as culture media for different crops. For example in the cultivation of woody plants and strawberry. The results are very good. Seeds cultivated grow faster, strawberry crops produce a fairly large fruits despite of its local variety. Following the assessment of the results, people started to think that bio slurry would help to produce an improved results on the cultivation of duckweed. Their prediction was not that wide of the mark. Once the hole is ready, put in a layer of tarpaulin as a base layer. Fill the pond with solid bio slurry before pouring in the water. Spread some duckweeds over the ponds as seedlings. The ponds will be full of duckweeds overnight and will be ready to use as fish feed. Basically, Duckweed grows considerably fast, but by using bio slurry the growth will be even more accelerated. The utilisation of duckweed and bio-slurry as fish feed will be very helpful for farmers in performing their daily routines as well as save the time considerably.

Knowledge-based innovation consistently implemented by the community of Sentul Asli has attracted the attention of the local administratives thus it is among the agenda of the Vice Regent during his monitoring and evaluation acitivites of the development in North Lombok. This annual agenda is intended to observe the progress of the development programme carried out throughout 2016, both by the local administratives of North Lombok Regency or other development partners. One of them is the programme implemented by MCA Indonesia through partners receiving the grants in the North Lombok Regency.

During his speech, the Vice Regent of North Lombok, Mr. H. Sarifudin, SH, MH truly appreciates the efforts of the community in Pendua, specifically in Sentul Asli hamlet. The drive for innovation throughout these times have been mostly driven by the local administratives in each occasion and programme. However, innovation in Sentul Asli, has in fact been initiated by the community themselves. No matter how intensive the advocacies may be, progress will not be achieved unless there is a will from the community. But here, the advocacy programme coupled with strong will of the community to change work hand-in-hand thus enable the community to explore and develop all resources available for them for a better life.

The Vice Regent of the North Lombok has also set a side a time to tour the fish ponds and duckweed ponds as well as a biogas reactor in one of the residents’ houe. He even tried to light up the lamp powered by biogas in one of the residents’ house. His face blushes with satisfaction at the end of the visit. He feels even happier when he hear the story of Pak Alwan who was his schoolmate in the High School when he hears that Horsepen Farmers’ Group has a big plan. The plan is to open a restaurant in which all the vegetables and all types of spices are sourced from the farm lands belonging to the members of the group. Similarly, the fish will also be supplied from the community fish ponds. Therefore, this group has started to accept luch orders when there are guests touring the areas. “Our menu has been tested by our friends,” he uttered proudly while pointing his finger to us.

“What I discover in this hamlet, is not only to observe the success of development programme implementation carried out throughout these times. But it is also how the success here is replicable elsewhere. That is why this visit is very important for us,” Mr. Syafrudin reveals at the end of his visit to Pendua Village. Prior to entering to his car, he also mentions about the road conditions in Pendua Village. He promises that road repair will be a priority in 2017 as he considers that it is in terrible conditions thus limiting community accessibility from the village to the capital of the subdistrict.

Source: http://www.pengetahuanhijau.com/berita/pentingnya-inovasi-dalam-pembangunan)