Training on Rice Husk Charcoal Briquette Production as an Alternative Fuel for the Karang Taruna Youth Organization of Jamberama Village, Kuningan Regency

Abstract

Rice husk is an abundant agricultural waste in Jamberama Village, Selajambe Subdistrict, Kuningan Regency, Indonesia, yet its use has been limited to animal feed and simple fuel, creating a risk of environmental pollution. This community service activity aimed to build the community's knowledge and skills, particularly among Karang Taruna youth, in processing rice husk into charcoal briquettes as an alternative energy source. The activity was carried out through four stages, namely site survey, community group outreach, hands-on training, and product testing. Fifteen of thirty invited participants attended, showing strong enthusiasm, and the training ran smoothly. Product testing revealed early ignition difficulty caused by incomplete drying during rainy weather, though the briquettes ignited successfully after an additional fourteen days of drying, while their burn duration remained shorter than wood charcoal. Field observation and interviews indicated a clear shift among participants from having no prior knowledge to understanding the briquette-making process. This activity is expected to become an initial step toward strengthening family economies through the productive use of agricultural waste.