04 September 2025
Syafrijal S.Kom
The Community Service Team from the University of North Sumatra (USU) conducted a socialization campaign on the use of trash fish as an alternative feed ingredient for catfish. The activity took place in Dusun Tengah, Pulau Banyak Village, Tanjung Pura District, Langkat Regency.
The Head of the Community Service Team from the University of North Sumatra, Amanatul Fadhilah, S.Pi., M.Si., a lecturer in the Aquatic Resources Management Study Program at the Faculty of Agriculture, collaborated with the village head of Pulau Banyak to develop alternative feed formulations using fish catch waste, as many local residents are fishermen.
Furthermore, Pulau Banyak Village still lacks the proper techniques for using feed machines, preventing it from producing its own feed sustainably.
The Team Leader, accompanied by three fellow lecturers: Julia Syahriani Hasibuan, S.Pi, M.Si, Harya Bimasuci W.S.Kel, M.Sc, and Hafizah Arinah, S.Hut, M.Sc, and five students from the Aquatic Resources Management study program: Mutia Maghfirah Hutasuhut, Desi Uliyanti Romaito Sitio, Josua Sitanggang, Renata Elfrina Br Sinurat, and Sufriani Manik, provided outreach, knowledge, and skills in making alternative feed from runcah fish, which are either overfished or leftover from fish processing.
In addition, the team also assisted in producing and marketing independent feed digitally on social media and disseminated information on financial management from feed sales.
Pulau Banyak Village Head, Mr. Zainal Arifin, expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by the community service team, including equipment and materials for feed production, including raw materials for feed production, a 500-kg scale, a sewing machine for sacks, 30-kg and 50-kg sacks, a freezer for storing smallmouth bass, and a cold box for storing opened raw materials.
"We have struggled to produce our own feed because, as a village that has received a grant for feed machinery, we still lack the proper techniques for using the machinery," said Pulau Banyak Village Secretary Bahtiar.
The village head and secretary of Pulau Banyak, along with the local community, were very enthusiastic and eager to participate in a series of activities, including presentations on feed production, Q&A sessions, and training on feed production techniques using smallmouth bass.
Furthermore, the equipment and materials for fish feed production were handed over to the Pulau Banyak village.
"We hope this will have a positive impact on the community, encouraging them to increase their creativity and apply the knowledge they have gained in making this feed," said a participant.
The village head also expressed his hope that this assistance will foster continued good relations in the future. In addition, the village head proposed to carry out further community service by building an independent crab apartment because the majority of fishermen in this village catch crabs and the selling value of crabs is very large so it can increase village income.
