Department of Agricultural Technology, University of Bengkulu Strengthens the Competitiveness of Local Food MSMEs in Sukasari Village
Saturday, October 11, 2025 – The Community Service Team (PKM) from the University of Bengkulu carried out an activity entitled “Improving Production Processes and Packaging Design as a Strategy to Strengthen the Branding of Local Food MSME Products in Sukasari Village”. This activity aims to increase the capacity and competitiveness of local MSME actors through the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and strengthening brand identity (branding) through product packaging design.
The activity which took place at the production site of the Putri Mandiri Women Farmer Group (KWT), Sukasari Village, Air Periukan District, Seluma Regency was led by Dr. Yessy Rosalina, S.T.P., M.Si., with team members Dra. Devi Silsia, M.Si., Dr. Evanila Silvia, S.T.P., M.Si., and assisted by University of Bengkulu students.
In this activity, the participants consisting of MSME actors processing bananas and cassava received counseling materials regarding the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), increasing the shelf life of products, and the importance of choosing the right packaging materials. In addition, participants were also equipped with an understanding of branding strategies through the design of packaging structures and graphics, and were shown examples of products that have succeeded in increasing selling value thanks to attractive packaging.
After the counseling, the activity continued with practical training, where participants learned to improve the processing process of chips and smoked bananas, as well as create product brands and logos using the Canva application on their respective phones. This training stage ended with direct assistance in improving the production process and packaging design in accordance with the character of local products. According to Dr. Yessy Rosalina, this activity departed from real conditions in the field. “Sukasari Village has great potential in the agricultural sector, especially in banana and cassava commodities. However, the selling value of processed products from the community is still low because the packaging and brand identity have not been developed optimally. Through this program, we hope that MSME players can be more prepared to compete in the market with products that are more hygienic, attractive, and have a strong identity,” he said.
This PKM activity includes several stages, ranging from initial surveys, socialization, counseling, training, to mentoring and evaluation. The entire series of programs is expected to be able to encourage the improvement of the quality of local food products and expand market opportunities for MSMEs in Sukasari Village. With this activity, the people of Sukasari Village now have new knowledge about the importance of a good production process and packaging design which plays a big role in strengthening the image and attractiveness of local Bengkulu products in the eyes of consumers.
