TRANSFORMASI EKONOMI PESISIR MELALUI INOVASI PRODUK GULA MERAH NIPAH: PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT DI KOTA LANGSA - Salman Syarief; Safuridar Safuridar; Maulana Rahman (Universitas Muhammadiyah Mataram, 2025)
Abstrak: Masyarakat pesisir di Kota Langsa masih menghadapi keterbatasan ekonomi akibat ketergantungan pada hasil tangkapan laut yang tidak menentu. Potensi pohon nipah sebagai sumber nira belum dimanfaatkan secara optimal untuk meningkatkan pendapatan. Kegiatan pengabdian ini bertujuan meningkatkan pendapatan dan kesejahteraan keluarga kelompok nelayan raseuki di Gampong Seuriget yang berjumlah 13 kepala keluarga melalui inovasi produksi gula merah nipah. Metode yang digunakan meliputi sosialisasi, penyuluhan, pelatihan praktik penyadapan, perebusan, pencetakan, dan pengemasan, serta pelatihan desain logo produk dengan dukungan mahasiswa dan perangkat desa. Monitoring dilakukan pendekatan observasi terstruktur dan partisipatif. 75 % hasil pelaksanaan kegiatan menunjukkan peningkatan signifikan pada hardskill nelayan dan istri nelayan terkait teknik produksi gula merah yang higienis, serta softskill berupa kesadaran menjaga ekosistem nipah dan keterampilan kewirausahaan. Produk gula merah nipah yang dihasilkan memiliki rendemen lebih tinggi dibandingkan aren dan berpotensi menjadi produk unggulan Kota Langsa.Abstract: Coastal communities in kota langsa continue to face economic constraints due to their dependence on unpredictable fish catches. The potential of nipa palm as a source of sap has not yet been fully optimized to increase household income. This community engagement program aimed to improve the income and welfare of 13 households belonging to the Raseuki fisher group in Seuriget Village through innovations in nipa palm sugar production. The methods applied included socialization, counseling, hands-on training in tapping, boiling, molding, and packaging, as well as product logo design workshops supported by students and village officials. Monitoring was conducted using structured and participatory observation approaches. The results revealed that 75% of participants showed significant improvement in hardskills, particularly in hygienic sugar production techniques, as well as softskills related to environmental awareness of nipa ecosystems and entrepreneurial capacity. The nipa palm sugar produced demonstrated higher yield compared to sugar palm and has strong potential to become a flagship product of Kota Langsa.