The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Unsri Boosts the Production Capacity of Roasted Kemplang by MSMEs in Tebing Gerinting Utara Village Through Appropriate Technology

The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Sriwijaya University implemented a community service program to increase the production capacity of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) producing roasted kemplang in Tebing Gerinting Utara Village, Ogan Ilir Regency. Through the application of appropriate technology, production capacity—which previously stood at around 100 kilograms per day—has successfully increased to 250 kilograms per day, or approximately 2.5 times the original amount.

As part of the program, the community service team provided assistance in the form of a chest freezer, a dough grinder, and a gas stove to support production activities. This equipment is intended to speed up the processing, increase production capacity, and help maintain the consistent quality of the baked kemplang produced.

The head of the community service team, Dr. Hj. Lili Erina, M.Si., explained that MSME operators in Tebing Gerinting Utara Village possess significant business potential. According to her, the application of simple technologies tailored to production needs can boost productivity while reducing reliance on manual labor.

Grilled kemplang itself is a traditional food from South Sumatra made from fish and sago. This product has unique characteristics because it is cooked by grilling or roasting over hot coals, rather than frying. This process produces a crispy texture and savory flavor that are the hallmarks of grilled kemplang, which is typically served with sambal.

The benefits of the program have also been felt directly by MSME owners. Susilawati, a local business owner, explained that before receiving equipment assistance, the production process often faced challenges when fulfilling large orders, especially ahead of major holidays. Since receiving this assistance, the production process has become faster, output has increased, and quality has been maintained.

The Village Head of Tebing Gerinting Utara, Andi Wandira, also expressed appreciation for the collaboration between FISIP Unsri and the village community. He hopes this partnership can continue to be developed, including through marketing guidance so that the village’s SME products can reach a wider market and become more competitive.

In addition to providing production equipment, the FISIP Unsri community service team also offers ongoing guidance to ensure business owners can operate and make optimal use of the provided technology. The students involved participated in training activities while gaining firsthand experience in community empowerment initiatives.

Through this program, it is hoped that increased production capacity will help MSMEs meet local market demand while opening opportunities to expand distribution to other regions. Thus, the application of appropriate technology is expected to support the development of the roasted kemplang business and strengthen the economy of the Tebing Gerinting Utara village community.