Applying SEBACEM Technology and Small-Plot Spatial Planning to Strengthen the Sustainable Food Program of Dasa Wisma RW 08 Cemorokandang, Malang City

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FORMOSA NEWS - Malang - SEBACEM Technology and Smart Spatial Planning Boost Urban Food Security in Malang City. Researchers from Universitas Wisnuwardhana Malang have successfully strengthened household food resilience in Cemorokandang, Malang City, by integrating organic waste conversion technology with small-plot spatial planning. The community-based project, led by researcher Umi Afdah alongside Adyla Mita Lestari , Adita Windasari, Istiyono Kirnoprasetyo, and Eny Dyah Yuniwati, was conducted throughout 2025 and published in 2026 in the Asian Journal of Community Services. The initiative demonstrates how densely populated urban neighborhoods can process local waste into high-value organic fertilizer while maximizing limited yard space to grow essential crops and medicinal plants.

Urban farming has rapidly emerged as a crucial strategy for strengthening food security and environmental sustainability in crowded residential areas. In many urban neighborhoods, residents face dual challenges: limited physical space for planting and growing volumes of unmanaged organic waste. In RW 08 Cemorokandang, local women's groups under the Dasa Wisma and Pokja 3 initiative had established household gardens but lacked technical methods to process organic waste systematically and organize narrow plots efficiently. Left untreated, household food scraps and fallen leaves became environmental waste rather than valuable soil amendments.

To solve these interconnected problems, the research team from Universitas Wisnuwardhana Malang deployed a participatory action approach that actively engaged residents through hands-on training, land planning, and continuous mentoring. The team introduced SEBACEM technology, a specialized composting method that utilizes locally available organic waste—including household food waste, dry leaves, bamboo litter, pine leaves, and pine flowers—combined with an EM4 bioactivator in sealed fermentors. Alongside fertilizer production, the researchers guided residents in small-plot spatial planning to optimize demonstration plots. The team restructured the narrow urban spaces into distinct functional zones for seedling preparation, vertical planting, growing beds, and maintenance pathways.

The program delivered significant technical and practical outcomes for the Cemorokandang community:

• Waste-to-Fertilizer Conversion: Participants learned to identify maturity indicators such as color, texture, and odor, successfully turning leaf litter and kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer.
  
• Optimized Land Utilization: Spatial restructuring allowed narrow residential plots to accommodate higher crop yields, supporting vegetables and traditional family medicinal plants (TOGA) in an organized setup.
  
• Reduced Production Costs: By manufacturing their own bio-fertilizer locally, residents reduced their financial dependence on commercial fertilizers while improving soil health.
  
• Enhanced Community Skills: The interactive mentoring model increased participants' practical confidence, transforming informal trial-and-error gardening into systematic urban agriculture.
  

The integration of waste management and spatial planning carries vital implications for urban policy, household economics, and environmental sustainability. Converting local organic waste into agricultural inputs reduces the volume of garbage sent to municipal landfills while supporting household food resilience. Furthermore, establishing structured demonstration plots offers a scalable framework for other urban neighborhoods striving to build self-sustaining community gardens. Highlighting the practical value of the initiative, lead researcher Umi Afdah from Universitas Wisnuwardhana Malang emphasized that combining proper technology with spatial organization transforms community mindset, enabling residents to view local organic waste as a valuable resource rather than a disposal burden.

Author Profiles
Umi Afdah, S.P., M.P. is a researcher and lecturer at Universitas Wisnuwardhana Malang, specializing in agricultural extension and community empowerment.
Adylla Mitha L, S.P., M.P. serves as an academic staff member at Universitas Wisnuwardhana Malang, focusing on agronomy and urban farming systems.
Adita Windasari, S.P., M.P. is an agricultural researcher at Universitas Wisnuwardhana Malang, specializing in socio-economic agricultural development.
Istiyono Kirnoprasetyo, S.P., M.P. is a lecturer at Universitas Wisnuwardhana Malang, with expertise in organic fertilizer technology and sustainable crop production.
Prof. Dr. Ir. Eny Dyah Yuniwati, M.P. is a professor at Universitas Wisnuwardhana Malang, specializing in soil science and environmental management in agriculture.

Source
Afdah, U., Mitha L, A., Windasari, A., Kirnoprasetyo, I., & Yuniwati, E. D. (2026). Applying SEBACEM Technology and Small-Plot Spatial Planning to Strengthen the Sustainable Food Program of Dasa Wisma RW 08 Cemorokandang, Malang City. Asian Journal of Community Services (AJCS), Vol. 5, No. 6, 417-426.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajcs.v5i7.41
URL: https://journalajcs.my.id/index.php/ajcs