Pemberdayaan kelompok pembudidaya rumput laut berbasis diversifikasi produk untuk meningkatkan nilai tambah dan daya saing usaha di Desa Tana Manang

Abstract

Abstrak

Desa Tana Manang, Kabupaten Sumba Timur, memiliki potensi budidaya rumput laut yang cukup besar, namun pemanfaatannya masih didominasi oleh penjualan rumput laut kering sehingga nilai tambah produk belum optimal. Permasalahan yang dihadapi kelompok pembudidaya meliputi keterbatasan keterampilan diversifikasi produk, peralatan produksi, manajemen usaha, branding, dan pemasaran digital. Kegiatan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat ini bertujuan meningkatkan kapasitas kelompok pembudidaya rumput laut melalui pengembangan produk olahan, penguatan manajemen usaha, dan pemasaran digital. Metode yang digunakan adalah pemberdayaan masyarakat secara partisipatif melalui tahapan persiapan, pelaksanaan pelatihan dan pendampingan, evaluasi, serta tindak lanjut. Persiapan dilakukan pada 26 Juli 2026, kegiatan utama dilaksanakan pada 27 Juli 2026 dengan melibatkan 30 anggota kelompok pembudidaya rumput laut, sedangkan tindak lanjut dilakukan pada 28–29 Juli 2026 melalui komunikasi jarak jauh secara informal dengan mitra. Evaluasi menunjukkan peningkatan pengetahuan peserta dari 54% menjadi 82%, sementara 80% peserta mampu memproduksi secara mandiri tiga produk olahan, yaitu dodol rumput laut, camilan gurih rumput laut, dan stik rumput laut. Program ini juga mencakup penyediaan peralatan produksi, pelatihan pembukuan sederhana, pengembangan logo dan kemasan, serta pemanfaatan Instagram dan WhatsApp Business sebagai media pemasaran. Meskipun kegiatan telah ditindaklanjuti melalui komunikasi dengan mitra, pemantauan formal terhadap keberlanjutan produksi dan dampak ekonomi belum dilakukan sehingga diperlukan monitoring lanjutan. Program ini diharapkan dapat mendukung pengembangan usaha berbasis rumput laut dan membuka peluang peningkatan nilai tambah serta pendapatan masyarakat pesisir.

Kata kunci: diversifikasi ; pemberdayaan masyarakat; rumput laut; nilai tambah.

Abstract

Tana Manang Village, East Sumba Regency, has considerable potential for seaweed cultivation; however, seaweed utilization is still predominantly limited to the sale of dried seaweed, resulting in suboptimal product value addition. The challenges faced by the seaweed farmer group include limited skills in product diversification, production equipment, business management, branding, and digital marketing. This Community Service Program aimed to strengthen the capacity of seaweed farmers through processed product development, business management improvement, and digital marketing. The program employed a participatory community empowerment approach consisting of preparation, training and mentoring, evaluation, and follow-up activities. Preparation was conducted on July 26, 2026, followed by the main activity on July 27, 2026, involving 30 members of the seaweed farmer group. Follow-up activities were conducted on July 28–29, 2026, through informal remote communication with the partner group. The evaluation showed an increase in participants' knowledge from 54% to 82%, while 80% of participants were able to independently produce three processed seaweed products: seaweed dodol, savory seaweed snacks, and seaweed sticks. The program also included the provision of production equipment, training in simple bookkeeping, development of product logos and packaging, and the use of Instagram and WhatsApp Business as digital marketing platforms. Although follow-up communication was conducted with the partner group, formal monitoring of production sustainability and economic impacts had not yet been carried out. Further monitoring is therefore needed to assess the sustainability and longer-term impacts of the program. The program is expected to support the development of seaweed-based enterprises and create opportunities to increase product value and the income of coastal communities.

Keywords: diversification; community empowerment; seaweed; value-added products.