Coffee Waste to Bioresources: Empowering Community Forestry Farmers through Coffee Husk Biocompost and Eco-Enzyme Production

Abstract

Coffee processing in community forestry landscapes generates substantial coffee-husk residues that are often underused despite their potential as locally available agricultural inputs. This community engagement program aimed to strengthen the capacity of GAPOKTAN Maju Jaya in Tanjung Dalam Village, Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, to convert coffee husks into biocompost and eco-enzyme and to initiate a circular coffee-waste management system. The program was implemented from April to August 2026 using a participatory approach involving coordination, education, hands-on production, technology application, mentoring, and monitoring. Twenty participants completed a 35-item pre-test and post-test covering knowledge, skills, environmental cleanliness, economic potential, and group service/self-reliance. Participants also practiced biocompost production using a simple aerated reactor and eco-enzyme fermentation using 60-120 L drums. The overall empowerment score increased from 59.4% to 80.6%. Knowledge increased from 56.8% to 81.5%, skills from 49.6% to 76.8%, environmental cleanliness from 65.6% to 82.6%, economic potential from 63.4% to 80.4%, and group service/self-reliance from 61.6% to 83.2%. The largest gain occurred in skills (27.2 percentage points), and all 20 participants recorded higher post-test scores. Biocompost was produced, eco-enzyme fermentation was initiated, and simple processing facilities were adopted by the partner group. The program demonstrates that combining practical technology transfer with group-based participation can reposition coffee husks from production residues into useful bio-resources. Continued monitoring is required to verify product use, cost savings, and the long-term institutionalization of the system.