Yogyakarta, August 13, 2025 – The Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness (EPA) Study Program held a Proyek Desa (Village Project) Socialization activity as part of the 2025 Program Kompetisi Kampus Berdampak (PKKB). The event was attended by faculty members and students from the 2022 cohort of the EPA program, to introduce and prepare for the implementation of the Village Project, which will take place from August to October 2025.
The event began with a warm welcome from the Head of the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program, Ir. Any Suryantini, M.M., Ph.D., who emphasized the importance of strengthening student competencies through practical field activities. Next, the presentation session was delivered by the program chair and Hariyani Dwi Anjani, S.P., M.Sc., as the Proyek Desa Coordinator. They explained the objectives, mechanisms, and expectations of the Village Project. The event continued with an active question-and-answer session from the students, demonstrating their high enthusiasm for the program.
The Village Project is an initiative aimed at enhancing students’ practical skills through direct interaction with farmers and business operators in rural areas. In its implementation, the Village Project involves 17 faculty advisors and 84 students from the 2022 cohort, divided into several working teams.
Each team is deployed to various regions in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) and Central Java to carry out activities related to six main topics: business networks, digital technology utilization, digital marketing, SME development, marketing concepts, and digital auction systems. Through these topics, students not only learn theory but also apply their knowledge to support farmer empowerment and the actual development of village economies.
This Village Project directly supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 – No Poverty: Supporting poverty alleviation through the development of micro-enterprises and strengthening the rural economy. SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promoting inclusive and productive economic growth through SME development and digital innovation. SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Integrating digital technology and modern marketing systems into community business activities. SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: Promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns through business innovation and effective resource management.
Through the Village Project, the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program aims to develop students’ competencies further, preparing them to tackle real-world challenges and make positive contributions to rural communities. It is hoped that this project can become a model for sustainable community service and encourage more advanced and independent rural economic transformation.
Author : Aprilia Dwi Hastuti
Admin of the Website for the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM