A vacant land measuring approximately 700 square meters in RT 01/12, Malaka Jaya Urban Village, Duren Sawit District, East Jakarta has now been turned into a productive urban farming area.

Head of Malaka Jaya Urban Village, Eko Purnomo Asih, said that the previous condition of the land was not maintained and was often used as a location for illegal garbage dumping, thus creating a slum impression in the residential area.

"Now it has been cleaned and used as an urban farming area so that it becomes greener, cleaner and more productive," he said, Tuesday (7/21).

Eko explained that four Orange Troops are deployed daily to organize and maintain the urban farming area after completing their main tasks in their respective work areas.

Various types of plants have been cultivated on the site, from medicinal plants to vegetables such as aloe vera, ginger, turmeric, chili peppers, and eggplant. Soon, the land will also be planted with Japanese pumpkins.

"Currently we are also processing and loosening the soil in preparation for planting," he added.

Meanwhile, Head of RW 12 orlf Malaka Jaya Urban Village, Sudarso appreciated the efforts of the Malaka Jaya Urban Village, especially the PPSU officers.

"Hopefully this urban farming can be utilized together by residents and urban village elements for farming," he stated.

Sudarso added that the area had actually been used as a location for a farmer group since 2017. However, these activities were temporarily halted, leaving the land abandoned again.

"We hope that its existence can continue to be maintained and developed," he hoped.