Maggot Boxes: UNU Yogyakarta Supports Cokrodiningratan Residents in Turning Organic Waste into an Economic Resource

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — The issue of organic waste in urban areas has encouraged residents of Cokrodiningratan Village, Jetis Subdistrict, Yogyakarta City, to develop a community-based solution. Through the Mitra Dayoku Maggot Group in RW 3, residents are processing organic waste into a resource with economic value.

The innovation is being developed through maggot cultivation using specially designed boxes as a rearing medium. For residents, the initiative is not merely an effort to reduce waste accumulation but also part of an effort to develop a productive business that can provide economic benefits to the community.

“Organic waste is no longer simply waste. Through the Maggot Box innovation, we turn organic waste into maggot cultivation that generates economic value. Waste is reduced, maggots grow, and income increases,” said Retna Pratiwi, a member of the Mitra Dayoku Group.

The business development initiative has received support from the Cokrodiningratan Village Government in collaboration with the Directorate of Community Engagement and the Social Laboratory of Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta UNU Jogja, as well as the Nahdlatul Ulama Amil Zakat, Infaq, and Sadaqah Institution (LazisNU) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY).

Support for the business development initiative, in the form of maggot cultivation boxes, was handed over during the 36th maggot harvest of the Mitra Dayoku Maggot Group in RW 3. The activity was held on Saturday, September 12, in the yard of Sunggolo’s house in Cokrodiningratan Village.

The event was attended by representatives of the neighborhood association (RW), the head of the Samimulyo Farmers Group, the head of the Dadimulyo Waste Bank Group, as well as administrators and members of Mitra Dayoku.

Novi Diah Wulandari, S.E., M.M., a mentor for Mitra Dayoku, said that the development of the maggot business is aimed not only at increasing production but also at ensuring business sustainability so that the group can manage its operations independently.

“The development of this maggot business is not only focused on increasing production but also on ensuring that the business can be managed sustainably. Through mentoring in business management, financial record-keeping, branding, and marketing, we hope that the Mitra Dayoku maggot administrators will become increasingly capable of developing their business independently and providing economic benefits to the community,” she said.

The mentoring program also focuses on financial management. Nurna Pratiwi, S.E., M.Si., Ak., who also mentors Mitra Dayoku, explained that financial record-keeping is an important part of building a healthy business. The group’s administrators are assisted in maintaining daily financial records and preparing profit-and-loss statements and debt records.

“Proper and responsible financial management is an important part of building a healthy and sustainable business. Therefore, our mentoring includes daily financial record-keeping and the preparation of profit-and-loss statements. We hope that the Mitra Dayoku maggot administrators will be able to better understand the condition of their business and make decisions about business development based on sound financial records,” she said.

The UNU Jogja mentoring program covers business management development, bookkeeping and daily financial record-keeping, preparation of profit-and-loss statements and debt records, as well as strengthening branding and marketing.

Mitra Dayoku’s maggot cultivation is part of the efforts of the community and Cokrodiningratan Village Government to develop local potential while addressing the issue of organic waste. In line with the Kasaningrat Community-Based Tourism (CBT) concept, residents are encouraged to become drivers of local area development.

Through maggot cultivation, organic waste is processed into an economically valuable resource while also supporting environmental sustainability. Support in the form of facilities and mentoring in business management, financial management, branding, and marketing is expected to strengthen the independence and sustainability of the community’s business.

Contributor: Yusnita Ike Christanti
Editor: Latifah