Pangkahkulon is one of the center village of processed fishery products, especially fish crackers in Gresik Regency.
In this village there are approximately 68 fish cracker UKMs with a superior product, namely payus fish crackers which taste very distinctive and savory.
However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, these cracker-producing UKM experienced a decline in production in line with reduced market demand.
Therefore, production efficiency, quality improvement and expansion of market penetration are solutions so that the UKM can survive in the midst of these difficult period.
With this background, a number of Lecturers from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Universitas Brawijaya (FPIK-UB) Malang were present to provide production tools for fish cracker UKM in Pangkahkulon -Ujungpangkah Village, Gesik Regency who are members of the Guyub Rukun fish cracker UKM group.
The provision of this assistance is paid by the Directorate of Research and Community Service, Directorate General of Research and Development Strengthening of the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education for the 2020 fiscal year through the Partner Village Development Program (PPDM).
“This assistance is part of a series of community service programs implemented in 2020. In addition to providing production equipment assistance, the team also conducted product photo training with smartphones, as well as marketing training with media or online marketplaces,” said Head of PPDM program manager M. Arif. Zainul Fuad, S.Kel, M.Sc.
Fuad added that the main equipment for fish cracker production was provided in the form of four units of cracker mixers, two units of automatic cracker cutting machines, one oil draining machine, two units of drying cabinet, and ten units of impulse sealer.
Another PPDM member, Feni Iranawati, S.Pi, M.Si, Ph.D hopes that this assistance can increase the efficiency and competitiveness of fish crackers as a superior product of Pangkahkulon Village.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ir. Hartati Kartikaningsih, M.S added that the quality of the fish crackers produced by these fostered UKM is not inferior to similar products sold in high prices in well-known supermarkets.
The Head of Pangkahkulon Village, Ahmad Fauron, S.Sos.I, admitted that he was very grateful to the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education through a team from FPIK Universitas Brawijaya for helping fish cracker UKM especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, many UKMs had reduced turnover due to declining sales, so with the help of equipment and online marketing training, I hope that 68 UKMs of fish cracker in Pangkahkulon Village can survive and increase their turnover,” said Fauron. (FUD / Humas UB/ Trans. Iir)
