a. Product Innovation
Since the second quarter of our R&D team has continued to research both improving product quality and diversifying new oyster products. We have tried several types of processed oysters such as oyster rendang, oyster satay, oyster meatballs, oyster pepes and oyster dimsum but with various considerations of the recipe and product we cannot sell it openly. Only oyster pepes has the highest chance and opportunity that consumers are interested in. In superior products, crackers and nuggets, we also conducted several experiments related to formulas and forms. At present, although oyster crackers have had competitors followed by several new competitors, the quality, color and taste of our oyster crackers are still the best at the time. as well as nuggets, although at the moment it doesn’t look like a similar business is trying to make the same product, but we have managed to get the perfect formula by adding seaweed additives in the formula which causes the nugget to taste better than before.
- Business Training by MetaLab Innovation, PLUT (Integrated business services center), Syiah Kuala University and the Ministry of Trade and SMEs
We received management training from MetaLab Innovation, a business assistance and startup service provider from Jakarta for 2 months. This training is carried out in each line of management and conducted in House Training, the training and mentors visit the location and the team responsible for the entire business process from cultivation, production, marketing, finance, branding and public relations to personnel management and R&D. We also received special certifications for all the training we successfully passed.
Together with the local government, we received management and production assistance sent through PLUT for 2 months.
We are also incorporated in the business incubator of the Faculty of Economics and Business at Syiah Kuala University until now for the entire process of business and business development.
From the central government, our production team has attended a week of training for processed seafood products and passed with good certification.
- Opening of Outlets
With the support of the AirAsia Foundation, we managed to rent a 2-storey store to be a sales outlet for oyster products. In addition to sell fresh oysters and processed products, we also accommodate agricultural and livestock products at the Alue Naga community outlets, such as chicken eggs, duck eggs, lemongrass, pandan leaves, sweet potatoes, banana leaves and several other marine products such as shrimp and crabs. Because the strategic location is not far from the village of Alue Naga but is on the edge of the highway, as well as close to several universities, we also receive many entrusted products from other community small businesses entrusted to us through a consignment agreement, this is very helpful in increasing the number and variance products at outlets that also has an impact on some potential benefits we get.
- New Complementary Business
With the success of the operations of oyster farms, currently its existence is not only used for aquaculture but also as an educational medium for students. Because of these market demands and opportunities, we commercialize visitors’ personal visits to locations while still providing free services for group visits on behalf of schools, universities or communities. We call it a natural school with a natural and outbound education package of Rp. 50,000 and Rp. 100,000. Participants will get some mangrove seeds, 1 oyster collector, goody bag, snack box, stickers, key chains also crackers and nuggets as a souvenir package.
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- SDGs Lab
We began to realize that with the many interventions and social benefits in the community, the regional planning and development agency made us a pilot project for the successful application of SDGs. They named us SDGs Labs in Aceh who have successfully completed the pillars and goals of the SDGs completely. With this situation, almost every week we receive a study tour and study trip visit from government and private agencies both local and foreign to the oyster farms.
- Natural Academy for children who seek oysters
As social entrepreneurs, the profits we get are mostly returned to the community. 10% for the development and maintenance of ponds, 20% for mangrove restoration around community housing (as a barrier to natural disasters and breeding grounds for fish, crab, shrimp and various marine biota populations) and 10% for free school operations for children in the village. This non-formal academy operates from Monday to Friday, 2:00 to 6:00 in 3 different study rooms. Learning uses the moving class method with 6 class choices namely, reading and writing, religious education, mathematics, English, science and art and craft. The entire learning process and learning media are entirely free including stationery. At present the school is managed by the management of the Natural Academy with 28 permanent staff and 189 part-time staff with 67 students from 4 years to 15 years.
