Mercu Buana University (UMB) held a Community Service (PkM) program to modernize the production of melinjo emping in Nagarapadang Village, Serang Regency, Banten. This community partnership empowerment activity received grant funding support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) for the 2026 fiscal year.
Until now, local emping artisans have relied on traditional methods that limit production capacity and result in inconsistent product quality. To address these challenges, the UMB community service team introduced the use of press machines, seasoning tools, and sealer packaging machines to improve efficiency and extend product shelf life.
The Head of the UMB Community Service Team, Eko Tama Putra Saratian, explained that mechanization in the production chain is crucial for the sustainability of micro-enterprises in rural areas. Product quality standardization and flavor diversification are expected to boost the selling value of this typical Serang emping in a broader market.
In addition to equipment technology improvements, the business actors were also provided with intensive training on branding strategies and visual packaging design. Dr. Mochamad Soelton and Wiyanto Hidayatullah, members of the UMB lecturer team, emphasized that aesthetic and informative packaging, combined with digital promotion strategies, is the key to gaining modern consumer trust.
This activity also actively involved UMB students as field mentors to provide them with practical experience in helping to solve real community problems. This ongoing mentoring was enthusiastically welcomed by local MSME actors who hope their businesses can grow more independently and compete in the national market.
