Capacity Building: Agroedutourism Management and Planning in the Village of Mlese, Klaten Regency

Mlese village is located on the border between Central Java Province and Yogyakarta Special Region Province, which makes it a strategic route. The area also has extensive agricultural land with a lot of potential. The residents’ livelihoods are dominated by agricultural workers, followed by textile factory workers. Universitas PGRI Semarang has initiated a community service program to assist the residents of Mlese in transforming it into an agroedutourism destination. The development focuses on three main areas: education, integrated farming, and tourism. The program uses methods such as demonstrations, training, and mentoring to achieve its objectives. Mentoring and training programs related to capacity building have been implemented, including food plating activities and tourism English training for local tour guides. Each activity attracted an average of 35 participants, primarily members of the women’s farmers group, as well as the Pokdarwis group and Farmer Group. Participants are encouraged to share the knowledge gained with other residents to help expedite the development of the Agroedutourism village. For integrated agriculture, Universitas PGRI Semarang’s community service group, in collaboration with the local community, has established a greenhouse on land provided by the village. The greenhouse serves as a venue for elementary school students to participate in outdoor classes, particularly for schools in the Mlese village area. Plans for future initiatives include training in processed food innovation.