Milkfish Processed Product Innovation as an Economic Empowerment Strategy in Bedanten Village

By: Daniella Theresa Wou Dhena & Lily Harliana Putri, S.AB., M.AB

17 August 1945 University Surabaya

Along the northern coast of Gresik Regency, specifically in Bedanten Village, Bungah District, stretches of fish and shrimp farms spread out, serving as a source of livelihood for the locals. This village even contributes about 46 percent of the total pond area in East Java, a figure that highlights the huge potential for milkfish farming in this region. But behind this promising number lies an irony worth noting: the abundant harvest hasn’t fully translated into prosperity for the farmers.

Ibu Ibah, the head of RT 09 RW 03 and also the owner of a fishpond in Bedanten Village, is a real example of this problem. So far, the milkfish harvest has only been sold fresh to middlemen and traditional markets, without any processing. As a result, the product’s selling price is low and highly dependent on unpredictable market fluctuations. On top of that, the business doesn’t have organized financial records, there’s no calculation of production costs, and there isn’t any business identity like a brand, packaging, or marketable label. Meanwhile, milkfish actually has much greater economic potential if it’s processed into ready-to-eat products.

This situation motivated the students of the Community Service Program (KKN) at Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya to step in and design an economic empowerment program based on local potential. Rather than just giving temporary aid, this program was designed to tackle the root problems of their partners from two angles at once: production and business-management/marketing. On the production side, the students introduced three innovations for processing milkfish: milkfish kekian, milkfish nuggets, and milkfish sambal, as practical alternatives for turning fresh milkfish into value-added food products with longer shelf life.

This program doesn’t stop at just cooking training. The series of activities is arranged gradually, starting with an initial outreach to broaden partners’ understanding of processing pond products, followed by hands-on training covering processing techniques, product packaging to make it appealing and hygienic, and even how to set profitable selling prices. Students also introduce simple technologies relevant to micro-business needs, such as creating a WhatsApp Business account, product photography techniques using a smartphone, and using QRIS as a digital payment method. These small steps actually become key points, because the digital gap often becomes the main barrier for micro-entrepreneurs in coastal areas to compete in wider markets.

What sets this program apart from just another campus ceremonial activity is its focus on sustainability. Students help design strategies so that this milkfish processing business can keep running even after the community service period ends, including encouraging the younger generation in partner families to get involved so the startup doesn’t just stop. The mentoring approach, which combines giving material with hands-on practice, also proves to make it easier for partners to understand each step, from production and packaging to marketing, so the knowledge gained can actually be applied, not just become quickly forgotten theory.

The empowerment story in Bedanten Village actually carries a bigger message than just the story of one village or one partner family. It highlights that the economic problems of coastal communities often aren’t caused by a lack of natural resources, but by limited access to knowledge, technology, and the right business management strategies. Milkfish, which has long been seen only as a raw commodity with limited market value, can actually be transformed into high-value processed products when approached with simple yet targeted innovations.

This program also serves as proof that collaboration between universities and village communities can produce real impact, not just activity reports, but also changes in mindset and skills that can continue to develop independently. Moving forward, the sustainability of programs like this needs support through regular mentoring, strengthening marketing networks both locally and digitally, as well as attention to business licensing and food safety so that processed milkfish products from Bedanten Village can level up and compete in a wider market.

In the end, the story of Ibu Ibah and her milkfish products is a reminder to all of us that economic empowerment based on local potential isn’t just an empty slogan. It’s a process that starts with small, concrete steps, from a mother’s kitchen in RT 09 RW 03, leading to bigger and more sustainable business opportunities for the coastal community of Gresik.