Irrigation is an important part of agricultural activity because it works as the source of life for plants. This part is quite a hard job for the farmers. Irrigation is one of the determinants for increasing maximum result of production in horticultural business activities. Sumba Island in general, has the potency for extensive land resources and abundant water resources, but in reality, there is still a large land area that has not been optimally managed by farmers. Therefore, it requires qualified human resource capabilities to manage them. Stepping up from reality, Stube HEMAT provided a discussion topic on "surface irrigation systems and drip irrigation systems for horticultural crops". It invited young farmers, students, and church youth to study irrigation methods and find out the benefits.
The training took place at the site of the Horticultural Agriculture Study Center – Lambanapu (Wednesday, 28/09/2022). The training participants consisted of students, members of Panah Merah's young farmers, and church youth who had just finished their studies and were committed to run a horticultural farming business. The resource persons explained the advantages and disadvantages between surface irrigation systems and drip irrigation systems. He explained the materials not only indoors, but also invited the participants to observe directly to get to know more about the practical benefits of the two irrigation methods.
The drip irrigation system has several advantages: 1) Increasing the use-value of water, saves water use, 2) Increasing plant growth and products, 3) Focusing on the targeted plant and the measurable water distribution, reducing weed growth, 4) Limiting labor, 5) Having simultaneous watering within a certain population. The weaknesses are 1) There is often a blockage in the emitter hole so that it requires intensive maintenance, and 2) Limits plant growth. The limited water distribution increase the risk of water shortages due to inaccurate calculation of water requirements, 3) the drip irrigation system requires quite a high cost for its installation, 4) Susceptible to lime, mossy and muddy water.
The advantages of the surface irrigation system are: 1) Plants and land will never dry out, 2) Farmers have more time to do other work, 3) In a week farmer can only water the crops twice. While, the weaknesses are; 1) Plant growth is not good enough because the permanently submerged roots do not get enough sunlight, 2) Weed growth rate is quite high, 3) The soil quickly compacts, 4) Nutrients in the soil are easily eroded, 5) Soil pH drops quickly.
The two irrigation methods have each advantage and farmers just have to choose according to the conditions of their land. From the training, the participants are expected to know more about drip irrigation systems and surface irrigation systems, be able to apply them in their fields, be able to compare conventional watering with field irrigation and drip irrigation, and be smart in deciding between two irrigation methods.
The participants showed enthusiasm in participating in the training. One of them, Berto said, "The training gave me new knowledge and I hope in the following training we can discuss creative economic movements done by youth community." Young man, keep up the good work. ***