Students of Politeknik Negeri Jember (Polije) have successfully completed a large-scale harvest of watermelon and sweet corn as part of the institution’s Project-Based Learning (PBL) program. The activity reflects Polije’s commitment to providing hands-on learning experiences that integrate agricultural production, business management, and entrepreneurship within its Teaching Factory (TEFA) system. The harvest served as the culmination of months of fieldwork in which students managed the entire cultivation process from planting to marketing.

The watermelon cultivation project involved students from horticulture and agribusiness-related study programs who were responsible for every stage of production. Through the PBL approach, students learned seed selection, land preparation, planting techniques, crop maintenance, pollination, harvesting, and post-harvest handling. This learning model enabled them to gain practical skills while applying theoretical knowledge in real agricultural settings.

Among the watermelon varieties harvested were seedless Amara watermelons and Black Sweet Dewangga watermelons. These varieties attracted attention because of their distinctive characteristics, including sweet flavor, high quality, and unique fruit appearance. Students were directly involved in cross-pollination activities to produce superior fruit varieties with strong market potential.

In addition to watermelon production, students also achieved a successful harvest of sweet corn cultivated using sustainable agricultural practices. The sweet corn project introduced students to environmentally friendly farming methods, including the use of organic fertilizers and biological growth enhancers. These practices not only improved crop quality but also strengthened students’ understanding of sustainable agriculture.

The harvest activities were designed not only to develop technical farming skills but also to build entrepreneurial competencies. Students were required to analyze production costs, determine pricing strategies, identify market opportunities, and develop marketing plans for their agricultural products. This comprehensive approach allowed them to experience the entire agribusiness value chain from upstream production to downstream marketing.

According to the supervising lecturers, Project-Based Learning provides students with valuable opportunities to solve real-world challenges commonly faced in the agricultural sector. During the cultivation process, students learned how to respond to pest attacks, environmental conditions, production risks, and market fluctuations while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The harvested products were marketed within the campus community and to external consumers, giving students direct experience in commercial agricultural operations. Some of the watermelon harvest was also processed into value-added products, demonstrating how agricultural commodities can be transformed into innovative food products with higher economic value.

Through the successful harvest of watermelon and sweet corn, Polije continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of vocational education that combines academic learning with real industry practices. The initiative not only strengthens students’ technical and entrepreneurial competencies but also contributes to the development of innovative young agripreneurs capable of supporting Indonesia’s future food security and agricultural sustainability.