UNAIR NEWS – Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital (RSTKA) docked on Sapudi Island on Monday 23 May 2022. On the voyage, RSTKA assigns two teams from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) UNAIR. Through the 4-day Airlangga Community Development Hub (ACDH) agenda, the teams tried to explore the potential of the island and listen to people’s aspirations.
Sapudi Island inhabitants currently complained about the regulations regarding the entry and exit of cattle prohibition due to the foot-and-mouth disease (PMK). As an island with an abundant cattle population, Sapudi Island is one of the most affected areas by the regulation. Thousands of cows kept by the Sapudi inhabitants are stuck and cannot leave the island.
“This is the right opportunity to sell the cows, especially in approaching Eid Al Adha. The cattle lockdown is highly impacted on the people’s economic fallout,” said Hedirisman, secretary of the Gayam Sub-district.
According to the s that were conducted by the teams from FEB and FKH, the cattle market shows a decline in sales since the PMK emerged. “There’s not even one-third of this. Usually, the field of cattle market is crowded every Wednesday,” said a cattle seller.
Besides, the majority of Sapudi Island inhabitants, who run the breadfruit cracker and fish cracker home industry, complained about the manual production and the seasonal supply of raw materials. Therefore, the FEB team introduced a digital marketing model to market MSME products to the local community.
“Breadfruit cracker is pretty hard to find, especially in Java. It has a considerable potential to be launched in various regions. Digital marketing and product development with creative packaging ideas will excel the cracker sales,” Dr Irham Zaki, a member of the FEB team, told UNAIR NEWS on May 27, 2022.
Besides, the FKH team conducted training to create a cattle feed bank. It aims to maintain the feed supplies during the dry season and hold workshops for PMK.
“Sapudi is a special region. There are no ruminant animals from other areas so the authenticity of cow germplasm is well-kept. Insya Allah [God willing], no Sapudi cows got infected with PMK,” said the FKH team leader Dr drh Anam Al Arif.
In the end, two solutions were offered. First, a feasibility study should be conducted to create a slaughterhouse (RPH) that will allow the community to directly sell the cows and market their products.
Second, regarding the MSME crackers product, it is also necessary to establish a cooperative that will help with capital, milling equipment ownership, business licensing, and marketing. The MSME business incubation was expected to introduce the products, earning them plus points and wider reach.
“We should conduct a comprehensive feasibility study. We will find investors to develop and check on the social conditions. Probably collaborates with Sidogiri Islamic Boarding School and etc,” said the FEB team member, Drs Qudsi Fauzy.
Author: Afrizal Naufal Ghani
Editor: Nuri Hermawan
