The nutritional intake of the Indonesian population is still far from ideal. Data shows that the average annual consumption of vegetables and fruits per capita is only 8.93 kg—an amount that needs substantial improvement to meet balanced nutrition guidelines. This was conveyed by Dody Kastono, S.P., M.P., during the Planting and Plant Maintenance Education session held on Monday (6/10/2025).
Dody highlighted the importance of optimizing home gardens as a solution to limited land availability in urban areas, while also supporting family nutrition. “Home gardens can function as a living food storage (food security), a living market (family consumption), or even a living pharmacy (medicinal plants),” he explained to the cleaning staff of FKG UGM.
He emphasized that successful gardening relies on three key factors: selection of planting media, consistent and intensive maintenance management, and adaptation to environmental conditions. “Maintenance management is often the biggest challenge, as it requires commitment rather than mere desire,” he added.
Furthermore, Dody provided practical solutions especially for environments with limited land, such as campus areas. He introduced the concept of Verticulture, a vertical planting method that utilizes various recycled containers including polybags, planter bags, and used plastic bottles.
The session also introduced the cultivation of Microgreens—vegetable plants harvested at a very young age (around 7 days), known for their high nutritional content. “Microgreens only require a small tray and can be harvested daily. They even offer significant business potential,” he concluded.
Reporter: Andri Wicaksono | Author and Photographer: Fajar Budi Harsakti
