Joint Team Develops Smart Pellet Maker to Cut Fish Feed Costs
A cross-university community service team has developed a Smart Pellet Maker based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and a digital business management system for fish farmers in Pesawaran Regency, Lampung. The innovation addresses the high cost of commercial feed, which is a major expense and obstacle in freshwater fish farming.
The Smart Pellet Maker, implemented at Karunia Ikan Segar, integrates a pellet-making machine with IoT technology. The system is equipped with sensors to measure feed weight and motor temperature, as well as a production time recorder. Data is displayed on a web-based dashboard, allowing operators to monitor production conditions in real time. This approach aligns with the development of digital aquaculture, which uses technology and data to improve monitoring efficiency and management.
Beyond production, the digital transformation includes a web-based Fish Farming Management System to digitise business administration. Training on the system was delivered by Temi Ardiansyah, covering system stages, features, and data management practices. This shifts administration from manual recording to data-driven management, making information on farming activities, operational costs, sales transactions, and profits more systematic and easier to evaluate.
Styawati provided training on operating the IoT-based Smart Pellet Maker, introducing participants to the main components, sensor principles, and how to read the monitoring dashboard. Practical operation sessions were held to ensure partners could use the technology independently. Hilma Putri Fidyandini from the University of Lampung conducted training on independent fish feed production and fish health management, covering raw material selection, feed formulation, pellet production, storage, water quality management, disease prevention, and feeding strategies.
The community service programme was held on Saturday, 25 July 2026, at Karunia Ikan Segar in Kurungan Nyawa Village, Pesawaran, and was attended by owner Petrus Sutrimo and his employees. The team was led by Temi Ardiansyah from Universitas Teknokrat Indonesia, with members Styawati and Hilma Putri Fidyandini. Students from various disciplines also participated, assisting in tool demonstrations and system operations. This collaboration between lecturers, students, academics, and partners ensures the programme is not merely a transfer of equipment but also of knowledge and skills for sustainable use.
The application of the Smart Pellet Maker opens opportunities for Karunia Ikan Segar to become more self-sufficient in feed production. Meanwhile, the management system encourages a shift from manual record-keeping to data-driven business governance. The combination of production technology and management digitalisation is crucial, as business success depends not only on fish production but also on the ability to control costs, record transactions, evaluate sales, and calculate profits.