ITS Campus News – Meeting the needs for food for vegetables on Bawean Island, Gresik Regency still relies on supplies from Java Island. Therefore, KKN Community Service Team (Abmas) from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) designed a greenhouse that is integrated with a photovoltaic-based water pump to support these vegetable food needs.

The coordinator of ITS KKN Community Service (Abmas) Team, Mochammad Adri Satria Musti, said that the use of greenhouses in agricultural processes is currently increasingly in demand by the public. However, irrigation in greenhouse systems is still mostly done manually which requires more human power to operate.

The student who is familiarly called Andri explained that ITS KKN Community Service (Abmas) team from the Power System Simulation Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering ITS designed a hydroponic irrigation system in a greenhouse. The system is controlled automatically by a timer attached to the battery box panel connected to the solar panel.

Furthermore, he explained that the main source of electrical energy used is solar energy. This energy source is supported by an electronic system that can change the operating point of a solar panel called the Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT). “The MPPT system aims to maximize the power output absorbed so that it is more optimal,” he explained.

The Electrical Engineering student class of 2019 continued that the advantage of using solar energy is lower investment costs. The electrical energy obtained from the sun will be used as an energy source to pump water from the well. “This system is able to increase food production in a more environmentally friendly way,” Andri said.

Andri explained again, the main components of the greenhouse are a water tank and a pipe connected to a water pump. In addition, in the greenhouse, humidity sensors, oxygen levels, and pH levels are installed. These components are optimized using the Raspberry Pi so they can be controlled remotely.

The stage in implementing this greenhouse begins with outreach to local residents. At this stage, counseling was given regarding the importance of vegetable food ingredients and the construction of greenhouses with solar energy. After that, the stage of procurement of tools and installation was carried out at the installation site. “Our program is well received by local residents as evidenced by their enthusiasm to help at every stage,” said Andri.

Besides still relying on vegetable supplies from Java Island, continued Andri, Bawean Island has unfavorable soil for farming. The condition of the soil and land in the area is mostly in the form of muddy soil and salty water. This is the result of periodic clearing of mangrove forests. “So, technology is needed to increase the value of food production on Bawean Island,” he said.

In the future, Andri hopes that this program can increase the productivity of vegetable farming on Bawean Island. Because this is the first time a greenhouse has been held at this location, ITS KKN Community Service (Abmas) team expects to add insight to the community. “Hopefully, this program will be the first step in growing food self-sufficiency on Bawean Island,” Andri concluded. (ITS PR)