Penerapan Teknologi Probiotik Berbasis Bahan Lokal untuk Meningkatkan Kesehatan dan Produktivitas Budidaya Lele di Desa Gelang: Local-Based Probiotic Technology Project to Improve Catfish Health and Aquaculture Productivity in Gelang Village (Jurnal Pengabdian Perikanan dan Kelautan: Piskarias Ministerium, 2025)
Kegiatan pengabdian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kesehatan dan produktivitas budidaya lele melalui penerapan teknologi probiotik berbasis bahan lokal pada pembudidaya di Desa Gelang, Sidoarjo. Probiotik diformulasikan menggunakan dedak, molase, air kelapa, ragi, dan starter bakteri, kemudian diaplikasikan pada media air dan pakan. Metode kegiatan meliputi penyuluhan, pelatihan praktik, demonstrasi aplikasi, serta monitoring kualitas air dan respons ikan selama tiga minggu. Penerapan probiotik juga menurunkan konsentrasi amonia, nitrit, dan nitrat secara bertahap, diikuti peningkatan aktivitas makan, perbaikan kondisi fisik ikan, dan penurunan mortalitas hingga 60–85%. Selain itu, sebagian besar pembudidaya mampu memproduksi probiotik secara mandiri dan menyatakan kesediaan untuk mengadopsinya secara berkelanjutan. Secara keseluruhan, teknologi probiotik berbahan lokal terbukti efektif, aplikatif, dan sesuai dengan kebutuhan pembudidaya dalam meningkatkan performa budidaya lele. This community service program aimed to improve the health and productivity of catfish aquaculture through the application of locally sourced probiotic technology in Gelang Village, Sidoarjo, Indonesia. The probiotic was formulated using rice bran, molasses, coconut water, yeast, and bacterial starters, and then applied to both water and feed. The activities consisted of extension sessions, hands-on training, application demonstrations, and monitoring of water quality and fish performance over a three-week period. The application of probiotics led to a gradual reduction in ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate concentrations, accompanied by improved feeding activity, better physiological conditions, and a reduction in fish mortality by 60–85%. In addition, most farmers demonstrated the ability to independently produce probiotics and expressed willingness to adopt the technology sustainably. Overall, the locally based probiotic technology proved to be effective, practical, and well-suited to the needs of small-scale farmers in enhancing the performance of catfish aquaculture.