Empowerment of the PKK Group in Temmapadduae Village, Marusu District, Maros Regency in Processing Cassava into Frozen Cassava Products

Maros, 28 September 2025 — The Faculty of Agriculture, Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) Makassar has again demonstrated its commitment to supporting community food independence through Community Service (PKM) activities carried out in Temmapadduae Village, Marusu District, Maros Regency. This activity has the theme "Innovation in Cassava-Based Food Processing Towards Family Economic Independence."

This PKM activity was chaired by Ir. Andi Ralle, M.P., with members Fariza Dhaifina Amran, S.TP., M.Si., and accompanied by two students from the UMI Faculty of Agriculture. The activity was attended by 33 participants, most of whom were women members of the PKK in Temmapadduae Village.

In his speech, Ir. Andi Ralle, M.P. explained that this activity aims to provide practical knowledge and skills to the community in processing cassava into value-added food products, one of which is frozen cassava or ready-to-process frozen cassava.

"Cassava is a local commodity with great potential. Through simple innovations such as processing it into frozen products, its selling value can be increased and its shelf life will be longer," said Andi Ralle.

Meanwhile, Fariza Dhaifina Amran, S.TP., M.Si. adding that it is hoped that diversification of cassava-based food processing can become a household business opportunity for the community, especially for the PKK women group.

"We want to provide inspiration so that mothers not only consume cassava, but can also use it as a processed product with economic value," he explained.

This activity began with counseling and demonstration of the process of making frozen cassava, starting from the peeling, cutting, blanching, freezing, to packaging stages. The participants seemed enthusiastic about participating in each stage and actively discussed marketing opportunities for these processed products.

Through this activity, the UMI Faculty of Agriculture PKM team hopes to encourage the formation of new entrepreneurs in the local food processing sector, as well as support village food security programs based on local commodity potential.