The Community Service of Lecturers at Polman Negeri Babel Strengthens Production, Finance, and Marketing of Taruli Fish Farming MSMEs
Group photo of the team of lecturers, students, and UMKM actors of Taruli Fish Pond after successfully implementing the community service program at the Polman Negeri Babel campus.
The Community Service Team from the Bangka Belitung State Manufacturing Polytechnic (Polman Babel) has once again proven its success. This time, they successfully implemented the Community Partnership Empowerment Program to Strengthen Taruli Fish Farming MSMEs to promote community economic independence by 2025. The program emphasized three main pillars: increasing production, optimizing financial management, and developing digital marketing strategies.
The program, which took place on Saturday (September 20, 2025), involved several lecturers, including Robert Napitupulu, M.T., Septiana Sihombing, M.Si., Ni Luh Eta Yuspita, M.Si., and Ali Rizki Maulana, M.Pi. Students also participated, including Risna Sihombing, Banediktus Handaru Saputra, Vanessa Angelika, and Licia Christianty. This activity received full support from the Directorate of Research and Community Service, Directorate General of Research and Development, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, through funding in 2025.
When met on Monday (September 22, 2025), the Head of the Community Service Team, Robert Napitupulu, M.T., explained that in terms of production, the program encourages feed self-sufficiency by facilitating pellet-making machines and feed shredding machines. "This effort is being implemented to reduce dependence on commercial feed, reduce production costs, increase feed efficiency, and provide training in balanced feed formulation for optimal fish growth," he said.
Equally important, from a financial management perspective, the team provides guidance on more organized and structured business record-keeping. "We teach everything from recording production costs and cash flow to profit and loss analysis so that MSMEs can manage their capital effectively, encouraging them to access appropriate and secure financing, thereby minimizing business risks," he explained.
In terms of digital marketing, Tambak Taruli MSMEs are equipped with skills in utilizing social media and e-commerce platforms. Participants are trained to create engaging promotional content and establish partnerships with regular buyers or offtakers. "This way, products can be marketed more widely, stably, and sustainably," he added.
Robert emphasized that this integrated approach between production, finance, and marketing is key to the success of the feed independence program, which will reduce production costs and foster sound financial management.
"Digital marketing strategies open up opportunities for new consumers, enabling Tambak Taruli MSMEs to grow independently, competitively, and sustainably," he added.
Furthermore, Robert stated that the Taruli Fish Farm MSME has the potential to become a successful model for community empowerment in Bangka Belitung. "In addition to strengthening regional food security, the existence of well-managed fish farms also supports community-based economic growth," Robert said.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Taruli Fish Farm MSME expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the attention given in the Polman Babel community service program, which has had a tangible impact.
"We are experiencing direct benefits, from increased harvest yields, more organized capital management, to an increased number of customers," he concluded Sudarman
