Singaraja- Bhakti innovation carried out by academics at the University of Education of Ganesha (Undiksha) is not only limited to processing grapes into wine in Banjar Village, Buleleng Regency. This program, which collaborates with the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti), also targets sea grape farming in Musi Village, Gerokgak District, Buleleng Regency.
I Kadek Lila Antara, S.Pi., M.P became the founder of the program. He is a Lecturer in Marine Aquaculture, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. On the sidelines of the Marine Grape Cultivation Training activities in the framework of the 24th National Technology Day (Harteknas), Tuesday (6/8/2019) it was explained that sea grapes are a new source of income that is environmentally friendly. Besides having economic value, it can also improve water quality by balancing the fertility of the surrounding waters. However, this potential has not been optimally managed by coastal communities. There’s not even a touch of technology yet. “In the past, it was only taken from the sea or ponds. There is still a fishy smell. It’s not hygienic,” he explained.
This condition, he continued, has the potential to cause marketing to be less than optimal. Therefore, there needs to be a solution. Since 2014, he has offered technology to farmers. The cultivation pattern is carried out in filtered water and the production is sterilized. “With this, the quality of sea grapes is better and hygienic,” he said.
The innovations carried out also had an impact on product marketing. Currently, it is not only targeting markets in the Buleleng Regency area but has also penetrated Denpasar, Jakarta, and Surabaya. Export opportunities are also considered very open. However, this has not been able to run optimally because the number of plasma farmers is still limited. “For the price, before there was a touch of technology, the per kilo was only around 15 thousand. Now it can reach 50 thousand,” he added.
At the training, the application of this technology continues to be campaigned. Not only targeting seaweed farmers but also Pokmaswas Baktiseraga and milkfish farmers from Penyabangan Village and the Situbundo area. “We want more and more sea grapes to be produced. It can provide added value to the farmers’ economy,” added the academic who is also the Commissioner of PT. Bulung Bali Prosperous.
The Head of the Health and Medicine Sub-Sector, Directorate of Industrial Innovation, Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education, Novi Mukti Rahayu, who was present at the training, appreciated this innovation. His party also encourages researchers to be able to develop their research results into finished products that can enter the industry so that they truly have economic value. “There needs to be downstream research results,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of LPPM Undiksha, Prof. Dr. I Gede Astra Wesnawa said Undiksha was not only concerned with producing reliable teaching staff candidates. But it also boosts the birth of appropriate technology that can be directly used by the community. This is also a form of implementing the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. “To downstream products resulting from research we continue to boost. We want the product to enter the industrial sector,” he said. (hms)
