UMI DPPM Lecturers Train Gattareng PKK Cadres to Process Moringa into Digital Packaged Products
Bulukumba, South Sulawesi - Dozens of PKK cadres from Gattareng Village, Gantarang District, Bulukumba Regency, now have a new provision: turning Moringa leaves which until now have only been a clear vegetable into tasty chips ready to be sold, complete with digitally designed packaging.
A service team from the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) of the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) went directly to Gattareng Village to assist residents in processing Moringa leaves into a valuable snack. This activity is part of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, especially the pillar of community service.
The program, entitled assistance in making healthy Moringa chips and packaging design based on digital technology, was initiated to answer a classic problem in many villages where local food is abundant but has not been processed into products of economic value. Moringa leaves, which grow abundantly in the yards of Gattareng residents, have been consumed more as a daily vegetable than as a processed product.
The series of activities proceeded in stages, starting from explaining the nutritional and economic potential of Moringa leaves, continuing with chips production practices, to assistance in preparing informative and attractive packaging designs. This gradual mentoring scheme was chosen so that the skills acquired by participants could actually be put into practice independently after the activity ended.
Implementation Team
• Assistant Lecturer: Irawati, S.Kom., MT., MTA.; Dr. Lilis Nur Hayati, S.Kom., M.Eng., MTA.; Nur Asmi, SKM., M.Kes.
A service team from the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) of the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) went directly to Gattareng Village to assist residents in processing Moringa leaves into a valuable snack. This activity is part of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, especially the pillar of community service.
The program, entitled assistance in making healthy Moringa chips and packaging design based on digital technology, was initiated to answer a classic problem in many villages where local food is abundant but has not been processed into products of economic value. Moringa leaves, which grow abundantly in the yards of Gattareng residents, have been consumed more as a daily vegetable than as a processed product.
"This activity on August 7 2026 is expected to be the first step for PKK cadres to develop quality Moringa leaf-based processed products, have good product identity, and be able to increase added value and income of village communities," said the Head of the Service Team.
The training material is designed not to stop in the kitchen. After the participants had direct practice in making moringa chips, the service team continued the packaging design assistance session by utilizing digital tools starting from selecting the visual appearance to the product information that needed to be included on the label. This two-sided approach, production and packaging, was chosen because both equally determine the competitiveness of MSME products on the market.
Abundant local food requires more than just processing, it requires product identity and packaging that can compete in the market.The series of activities proceeded in stages, starting from explaining the nutritional and economic potential of Moringa leaves, continuing with chips production practices, to assistance in preparing informative and attractive packaging designs. This gradual mentoring scheme was chosen so that the skills acquired by participants could actually be put into practice independently after the activity ended.
Implementation Team
• Assistant Lecturer: Irawati, S.Kom., MT., MTA.; Dr. Lilis Nur Hayati, S.Kom., M.Eng., MTA.; Nur Asmi, SKM., M.Kes.
• Companion Student: Kharisma Suchy, Moh. Afif Riva Wiratama, Nining Eka Putri
Student involvement in this activity is also a form of community service-based learning, where theories obtained in college are immediately tested and applied in real contexts in the field.
For Gattareng Village PKK cadres, this training opened up new business opportunities originating from their own backyard. With higher quality products and more professional packaging, it is hoped that their Moringa chips will be able to penetrate a wider market, no longer limited to local village markets.
The service team hopes that this program will become a starting point for the growth of entrepreneurial spirit among PKK cadres, as well as encouraging the birth of superior, sustainable village products.
It is believed that innovations in digital production and packaging will increase the competitiveness of local products while contributing to improving the welfare of the people of Gattareng Village.
For Gattareng Village PKK cadres, this training opened up new business opportunities originating from their own backyard. With higher quality products and more professional packaging, it is hoped that their Moringa chips will be able to penetrate a wider market, no longer limited to local village markets.
The service team hopes that this program will become a starting point for the growth of entrepreneurial spirit among PKK cadres, as well as encouraging the birth of superior, sustainable village products.
It is believed that innovations in digital production and packaging will increase the competitiveness of local products while contributing to improving the welfare of the people of Gattareng Village.
