ERITECH UNAND: Promotes Environmentally Friendly for Rice Cultivation in Padang City
Padang, April 29, 2026 – Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas (UNAND), organized an International Community Development program entitled “ERITECH UNAND: Farmer and Environmentally Friendly Integrated Crop Protection Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture.” The activity targeted farmer groups, namely Keltan Semangat Baru, KWT Pandan Wangi in Piai Tangah, and Keltan Sinar Baru in Pauh District, Padang City.
This activity is part of the internationalization initiative as well as community service, supported by the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) through the Equity Program (Contract No. 4303/B3/DT.03.08/2025). It aims to introduce environmentally friendly crop protection technologies to farmers.
The program involved various academics and practitioners from both national and international institutions, including: Dr. Utpal Dey (Central Agricultural University, India), Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. Muhammad Ilhamdi Rusydi, S.T., M.T (UNAND), Prof. Dr. Ir. Trizelia, MS (UNAND), and Dr. My Syahrawati, SP., M.Si (UNAND).
The event was also attended by the Head of the West Sumatra Food Crops and Horticulture Plant Protection Center (BPTPH), Rina Martin, S.P., M.Si, along with her team, and the Head of the Padang City Agriculture Office, Yoice Yuliani, M.Si, along with her team.
During the activity, the team introduced the ERITECH UNAND (Eco-Rice Technology) concept as an integrated pest management strategy emphasizing environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches. The introduced technologies included:
Healthy crop cultivation practices (jajar legowo planting system, cattle manure combined with Tithonia, and straw mulch enriched with Trichoderma); Induced resistance using Beauveria bassiana; Ecological engineering through refugia planting; The use of ultrasonic technology as a non-chemical pest control alternative.
Farmers showed high enthusiasm for the introduced innovations, particularly ultrasonic technology and the use of natural enemies as safer and more sustainable pest control solutions.
Through this program, farmers are expected to reduce their dependence on synthetic pesticides, increase productivity sustainably, maintain agroecosystem balance, and strengthen their commitment to sustainable agriculture.
This International Community Development activity represents a tangible contribution of Universitas Andalas to supporting sustainable agricultural development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in food security and environmental protection.
In the future, the ERITECH UNAND program is expected to be expanded and replicated in other regions as a model of science-based, technology-driven, and locally adaptive agricultural innovation.
