Semarang – Central Java (9/11). Two lecturers at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) Diponegoro University, namely Dr. Diana Chilmawati, S.Pi., M.Si., and Ristiawan Agung Nugroho, S.Pi., M.Si. have introduced the public to making meatballs and nuggets from Cultivated Catfish and Vegetables (BULEYUR) in buckets in 2 (two) Pokdakan in Nyatnyono Village, Semarang Regency.
“This program is our final year program in the community service scheme for Strengthening Community Leading Commodities (PKUM) at Diponegoro University (Undip). This program has been running for three years. The first year focused on Fish Cultivation in Buckets (BUDIDAMBER), continued in the second year on processing catfish cultivation products into ready-to-sell products and ending this year with activities to diversify cultivated products into processed meatball products and nugget,” said Diana Chilmawati as the head of the activity organizer.
As in previous years, the Small and Medium Enterprises (UKM) Partners/Fish Cultivator Group (Pokdakan) Siwarak Mina Sejahtera and Pokdakan Mardi Mulyo are partners in community service activities, located at Nyatnyono Village, Semarang Regency. The initial aim of this activity was to provide additional income for Partners and the Community as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it will continue until this 3rd year. Due to positive results and more than the previous year, further development towards diversification of BULEYUR products.
The increase in the added value of catfish products from Budidamber was achieved by 2 (two) Pokdakan this year. The aim was achieved through the support of intensive training and mentoring activities by the service team. These activities started with the counseling process on making catfish nuggets and meatballs, followed by direct practice by the Fish Cultivator Group (Pokdakan) business partners. Apart from that, the development of digitalization in marketing is also carried out by the service team by assisting in the creation of accounts such as Shopee, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for selling products called “M-GOOD FISH.”
“I am very grateful to Undip for equipping us with new knowledge and skills from 2021 to 2023. We have gained a lot of new knowledge, such as the results of cultivating catfish, which can be made into meatballs and nuggets so they have high selling value,” said Mr. Suwito, a partner member of Pokdakan Mardi Mulyo.
The program mentoring process, apart from involving lecturers, also involves undergraduate and postgraduate students as a form of support for Undip’s Tri Dharma of Higher Education. “I feel happy to be involved in this activity. I learned many new things while participating in it. Dedicating to the community is one of the important keys in order to live; hopefully, in the future, the community will continue to be able to continue the programs that have been promoted,” said Pranata Candra, one of the students involved in the service activities.
“Collaborative efforts, dedication and hard work between academics and the community will be able to solve existing problems. However, community service is not the final destination but rather a continuous journey. We must continue to be committed to working together, implementing the principles of goodness, and making positive contributions to our society,” said Diana Chilmawati at the end of the interview. (Community Service Team ed. Ut-PR)
