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| Palawidja, a tea product made from corn silk by UMM and the Sragi Village. (Foto: Istimewa) |
The University of Muhammadiyah Malang always fulfills the three obligations of a university. This time, the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry of UMM collaborated with the people of the Sragi Village in Blitar, East Java. They successfully introduced a product named Palawidja on 5th February 2023 in a health walk event. The Member of the House of Representatives in the Commission III, Nurhadi, also attended the launching event.
Interestingly, hundreds of people cheered the launch of the innovative product. Vritta Amroini Wahyudi, S. Si, M. Si., the research chief, said that many studies had been conducted to develop the product, especially since 2019. She also feels excited to have a chance to serve and share knowledge with the people of Sragi Village.
Further explaining, Vitta expressed that East Java places the first position as the highest corn producer among provinces in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Blitar is in fifth place as a corn producer in East Java. Then she and her team want to maximize the benefits of corn, including corn waste, which can be processed into powdered tea.
“Palawidja is a tea product with high antioxidant content from corn silk waste. We want stuff considered valueless, to be processed into a product, which can increase the people’s economy,” said the Lecturer of the Food Technology Science of UMM.
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She and her team already did research during the difficult COVID-19 situation. The study revealed that corn silk is functional. If corn silk can be well-consumed, it can prevent cancer, tumor, and aging; accelerate and facilitate cell regeneration. Hence, it can make people stay young.
The community service was welcomed well by the people of the village. One of them was Leni, the chief of the Sragi Village. She considered the innovation made by UMM to be excellent. Corn silk, which used to be rubbish and thrown away, can be a high-value product now.
On the same occasion, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry of UMM, Dr. Ir. Aris Winaya, M. M., M. Si. IPU, highly supports the academic staff of the White Campus to do research and community service. Primarily it encourages the independent economic system of people. Additionally, the tea product of corn silk is functional and modest from a technological aspect.
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His team deliberately chose accessible and technical technology to apply to society but has more value on the scientific side. Furthermore, the people of Srigi Village have been equipped with how to make a powdered instant drink with additional ginger and lemon.
“The next step is we will register this product to the Home Industry Food. Also, we are still trying the brand to get the patent claim of Intellectual Property Rights. I do not expect that this great appreciation is also expressed by the Member of House Representative of the Republic of Indonesia in the Commission IX, Sir Nurhadi, who directly observed,” ended the Dean. (imh/ros/wil)
