Tuesday. August 24, 2021. The current Pandemic conditions bring various challenges ranging from economic challenges, health and public services. The economic recovery of the community is the focus of the government from the center to the village level. One of the programs in Kerik Village, Takeran District, Magetan Regency is economic recovery in the agribusiness sector. One of the leading commodities developed is the California Papaya.

As a form of synergy between academics and the community, the PKM-PM team led by Alvy Ervita Cahyani (Biology Education) provided training and assistance in processing California papaya in Kerik Village. As a first step, California papaya cultivation has been developed in Kerik Village since 2019. Currently, Kerik Village requires processing of processed products that have the potential to enter the national market. The PKM team, which was supervised by W. Linda Yuhanna, began coordinating in June to participate in the success of the Kerik Village program.

"Agribusiness must be carried out in a holistic and sustainable manner, post-harvest processed products can be used as an alternative when the harvest is high and prices decline," said Linda as a companion lecturer. This was welcomed by Ari Nur Widiyanto, the head of Kerik Village. Training activities for various food preparations and marketing are very necessary. People can gain skills in starting a home industry and developing the economy from home. So that during the pandemic you can still be productive.

The PKM-PM team provides training and assistance with participatory social methods, so that the target can be directly involved. Even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, activities are carried out in a limited manner and according to health protocols. It is hoped that the people of Kerik Village are able to develop a California papaya agribusiness center starting from cultivation, product processing and marketing.