Improving Nutrition and Instilling Santri’s Independence Through Assistance in Milk Processing and Catfish Cultivation

Islamic boarding schools (ponpes) are educational institutions that combine religious education and formal education. Life there is like an ordinary household life. However, Islamic boarding schools, whose sources of funds depend on donors, teach students (as students of Islamic boarding schools) work hand in hand to cook and serve food in turns according to the agreed schedule. The food menu is also based on the availability of existing materials, so that the fulfillment of nutrition has not been well patterned.

Studying at Islamic boarding schools is able to give birth to a young generation that is healthy, characterized, skilled, and independent. Because independence is a characteristic of education there, where students live separately from their parents from an early age. In addition, the realization of independence can be done by providing entrepreneurial skills as a provision when graduating and leaving Islamic boarding schools.

Observing these conditions, a team of lecturers from the Faculty of Animal Science Universitas Brawijaya (Fapet UB) conducted community service to Nurul Muttaqin Albarokah Islamic Boarding School, Tlogowaru, Kedung Kandang District – Malang City. Activities carried out by Dr. Tri Eko Susilorini with members Dr.Kuswati, Rini Dwi Wahyuni, M.Sc.,Ria Dewi Andriani, M.Sc, Poespitasari Hazanah Ndari, M.P., and Wike Andre Septian, M.Si. They provide training on milk processing, grants for pasteurization equipment and chiller machines, as well as cultivation as an effort to improve nutrition for santri and female students.

According to Icus (Dr. Tri Eko’s nickname), the majority of the students are in their infancy, so they need adequate protein intake. Moreover, Nurul Muttaqin Albarokah Islamic Boarding School has 351 students, consisting of 135 male students and 216 female students who have nutritional problems.

The milk processing training invites practitioners and alumni of Fapet UB, Dr. Dodik Suprapto, S.Pt., M.Sc. He taught the manufacture and packaging of pasteurized milk to 12 students and female students, Sunday (6/2/2022). After getting a brief introduction about milk by Ria Dewi, M.Sc, participants were invited to process 100 liters of fresh milk using a pasteurizer.

Pasteurization is a heating process using temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius for a certain period of time. The goal is to kill some microbes by minimizing protein damage due to too high temperatures and to extend the shelf life of milk. Because one of the properties of fresh milk is easily damaged and contaminated.

Pasteurization of 100 liters of milk produces 500 bottles which are ready to be distributed to the students. Furthermore, the Fapet UB team will only provide fresh milk and it will be processed independently by the students.

“In the future, we hope that the students will be able to sell their own processed pasteurized milk. So that it can increase income for the cottage as well as foster an entrepreneurial spirit and increase creativity.” said Icus

Besides that, Icus et al will also provide assistance for catfish seeds to be cultivated as a source of food for the santri. The catfish cultivation training will be guided by Wike Andre, M.Si and will be carried out on the next visit. (dta)