Pemberdayaan Kelompok Pembudidaya Ikan Mina Anakan Jepun di Desa Bebetin melalui Inovasi Pakan Fermentasi dan Diversifikasi Produk Olahan Ikan Empowering the Mina Anakan Jepun Fish Farmers Group in Bebetin Village through Innovation of Fermented Feed and Fish-Based Processed Products

Abstract

This community empowerment program was carried out in Bebetin Village, Sawan District, Buleleng Regency, to help local fish farmers build self-reliance and improve their livelihoods through simple and locally adapted innovations. The community faced real challenges: the high cost of commercial feed, limited knowledge of how to process their harvest, and a lack of access to wider markets. To address these issues, the team introduced fermented fish feed made from everyday materials such as rice bran, lamtoro leaves, and banana stems, and trained the farmers to turn their fish harvest into value-added products. Through a participatory approach involving five stages, socialization, training, technology implementation, mentoring, and evaluation, the program encouraged active involvement from both men and women in the group. Together, they learned to produce and market fish-based products such as shredded catfish, seasoned fish fillets, and tilapia crackers. The results showed a clear transformation: production costs dropped by 15–25%, income increased by 20–35%, and women became more actively engaged in packaging and online marketing. Beyond economic gains, the program also nurtured environmental awareness through the reuse of organic waste and promoted teamwork and shared responsibility within the group. Overall, this initiative demonstrates how community empowerment rooted in local innovation can strengthen economic resilience, promote gender inclusion, and advance rural aquaculture toward a greener, more sustainable future.