Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Melalui Budidaya Ikan Gurami di Desa Tegalwangi, Jember

Abstract

Community empowerment is a strategic approach to enhance economic independence by utilizing local resources. Indonesia has great potential in developing the gourami fish industry, particularly in East Java. Jember Regency is recognized as one of the main centers for gourami cultivation, both in the nursery and grow-out stages. According to data from the Department of Fisheries, Livestock, and Marine Affairs of Jember Regency, gourami production increased from 3,963.6 tons in 2019 to 4,733.5 tons in 2022. This study focuses on community empowerment through gourami fish cultivation managed by the fish farmers group “Mina Tegal Jaya Makmur” in Tegalwangi Village, Umbulsari District, Jember Regency. The research uses a descriptive qualitative method with purposive sampling to select informants knowledgeable about the empowerment process. The findings reveal that the empowerment activities are implemented through three main principles: aligning with community interests and needs, strengthening grassroots organizations, and applying a “learning by doing” approach. These efforts aim to develop local potential, foster self-reliance, and reduce economic inequality. Supporting factors include strong community motivation and the availability of facilities and infrastructure, while inhibiting factors consist of limited funding and government policies that do not fully support small-scale fishery development.