UNDIP, Semarang (10/2) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), through the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), has made concrete contributions to communities affected by floods and landslides in West Sumatra. The community service activity, carried out from February 10 to March 10, 2026, is part of the Impactful Student Program for Disaster Recovery in Sumatra, organized by the Directorate of Research and Community Service of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
A total of 50 UNDIP students, forming the MAHABHAKTI team, will implement community service programs in Nagari Salareh Aia, Palembayan District, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, which is one of the regions with a high level of hydrometeorological disaster risk.
The Head of the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) UNDIP, Prof. Dr.Ing. Ir. Suherman, S.T., M.T., stated that this program represents the tangible role of higher education institutions in responding to community issues, particularly in disaster-prone areas.
“This Impactful Student Program is designed to ensure that the presence of students in the community is not merely ceremonial but truly delivers sustainable impact. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, our students are encouraged to provide practical solutions that meet the needs of post-disaster communities,” he said.
Dr. Ir. Fahmi Arifan, S.T., M.Eng., M.M., IPM, ASEAN Eng., a lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering UNDIP and the program coordinator, expressed the readiness of the MAHABHAKTI team to be directly deployed to post-disaster areas. “We named this activity MAHABHAKTI: Strengthening and Integrating Community-Based Clean Water Management and Rice Farming as a Strategy for Post-Disaster Food Security in Agam, West Sumatra. We want students not only to provide physical assistance but also to transfer knowledge and simple technologies that can continue to benefit the community,” he explained.
The program involves UNDIP students from three faculties and various study programs, including the Vocational School (Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology and Mechanical Design Engineering programs), the Faculty of Public Health (Public Health and Occupational Safety and Health programs), the Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences (Food Technology, Agribusiness, and Agroecotechnology programs), and the Faculty of Science and Mathematics (Physics program).
The Head of Nagari Salareh Aia, Rijal Islami T., expressed appreciation for the students’ participation in this community service activity. According to him, the presence of students provides renewed enthusiasm for communities recovering from the disaster’s impact.
“This program is very helpful, especially in increasing community awareness regarding disaster mitigation and sustainable resource management,” he stated.
The MAHABHAKTI Program (Students Present to Serve and Contribute Tangibly for Indonesia’s Resilience) is a post-disaster community empowerment initiative that strengthens community resilience in meeting basic needs by integrating water resource management and the food sector. It also directly contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including: SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) through strengthening community-based clean water services; SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through the recovery and improvement of rice production as a primary food source; SDG 13 (Climate Action) through enhancing community capacity to adapt to hydrometeorological disaster risks; and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in the context of disaster-resilient villages.
Aligned with the Asta Cita agenda, the MAHABHAKTI program supports efforts to strengthen national food security, reduce disaster risks, and promote rural development through community empowerment. The integration of clean water management and rice farming in this program reflects efforts to build community independence, improve welfare, and strengthen local social and economic resilience.
Through this initiative, MAHABHAKTI is expected to deliver sustainable, tangible impacts while contributing to inclusive and equitable national development. Through the Impactful Student Program, students are also expected to develop social empathy, leadership, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills, while making meaningful contributions to society in line with the tagline “Noble and Valuable UNDIP.” (Public Communication/UNDIP/LPPM Team, ed. Titis)