Increasing Production of Sidoarjo SMEs, UWP Lecturers Create Appropriate Technological Innovations for Wader Drying Ovens
Wijaya Putra
University (UWP) Surabaya has once again demonstrated its commitment to serving
the community. This time, through innovation led by a team of UWP lecturers,
they supported the development of Wader Kriuk small and medium enterprises
(UKM) in Sidoarjo by introducing appropriate technology in the form of drying
ovens and fryers specifically for wader fish.
Led by Dr. Fitra
Mardiana, SE., MM, a team of UWP lecturers consisting of M. Hasan Abdullah and
Wahyu Nugroho developed this technological solution to help increase the
production capacity of these SMEs.
"We hope
that with this technology, UKM Wader Kriuk will be able to increase its
production scale significantly. Apart from that, we also provide training in
using this tool to make it more effective," said Dr. Fitra.
Ana, Dr. Fitra,
highlighted the importance of wader as a source of highly nutritious food.
"Even though wader fish is often underestimated, it is actually rich in
protein and omega-3 which are good for heart and brain health," he
explained.
This delicious
wader fish is usually processed into pepes or fried, making it a favorite side
dish for the community. One entrepreneur who is exploiting this potential is
Mbak Ami, owner of the Wader Kriuk business in Sidokepung Village.
"This
business was born in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and became known to the
public in mid-2022, where orders continued to increase," said Ana.
However, Ms. Ami
faces challenges in meeting market demand due to limited production equipment
and knowledge about packaging and marketing.
Seeing this, the
UWP team came up with an innovative solution. Apart from introducing more
efficient wader drying ovens and fryers, they also provide training on digital
marketing, product branding, and how to improve labels to include the halal
logo. Ms. Ami was also trained to use an induction magnetic sealer to maintain
product quality by covering it with aluminum foil.
"We also
emphasize the importance of maintaining product quality from the pre-production
stage to post-production," continued Ana.
The process
starts from selecting the best raw materials, washing the waders with running
water, to hygienic packaging techniques using aluminum foil-covered containers.
All of these
activities are fully funded by the Directorate of Research, Technology and
Community Service from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and
Technology for the 2024 fiscal year. With this breakthrough, UWP hopes to
continue to support SMEs like Wader Kriuk to develop and be competitive in a
changing market. wider.
