Pendampingan Pengolahan Gula Sagu untuk Pemberdayaan Ekonomi Masyarakat Kabupaten Lingga

Abstract

The 2025 Dosen Pulang Kampung (Lecturers Return to Village) program was implemented in Nerekeh Village, Lingga Regency, with a focus on assisting in the production of sago-based liquid sugar as a strategy to empower local communities and enhance the value of regional resources. The program aimed to optimise the utilisation of local sago, strengthen community capacity, and promote the diversification of healthy and competitive food products. Activities included training on the production of sago liquid sugar using simple and environmentally friendly technology, hands-on production assistance, and the development of product packaging and branding to improve market access. A total of 35 participants, comprising members of the PKK women’s group, the village-owned enterprise (BUMDes), village officials, and university students, actively participated through learning-by-doing methods, resulting in improved skills and understanding across all stages of production. The program also introduced the cultivation of the medicinal plant binahong to support household health initiatives and conducted outreach activities to promote higher education opportunities at IPB University for students of SMAN 1 Lingga. The results indicate strong community enthusiasm, successful initial product development that meets basic quality standards, and promising opportunities for sago downstream industries as regional flagship commodities. Overall, the program contributes to strengthening the local economy, enhancing human resource capacity, and supporting the achievement of SDGs related to poverty reduction, food security, sustainable consumption and production, and sustainable use of natural resources.