A group of Universitas Gadjah Mada students have processed the fruit of mangrove (Rizophora stylosa) into tasty chips called as Krimang. The students are Norlaili Isnaini and Fatma Rani Usnita (Forestry), Aisya Fitri Abdillah (Biology), and Emy Puspita Yuendini (Geography), who turned the mangrove fruit into a product of economic value.
"Until today, mangrove fruit has not been utilised by people living around mangrove forests. They would abandon the fruit in the forest, sometimes one would pick them up for seeding,” said Norlaili Isnaini on Tuesday (9/5) at UGM.
Norlaili explained the snacks they made not only increases the economic value of the fruit but is also nutrients rich. The fruit contains carbohydrate, protein, fats and vitamins that are useful for the body.
Laili and friends utilised the fruit that they collected from farmer groups in Madura.
The fruit is first cleaned and thinly sliced before being boiled. Later these will be dried under the sun. Afterwards, the fruit slices are re-boiled and blended to make it tender. Seasoning is added to it. The mold is then formed into thin slices which are ready to be fried.
“We make three flavours, original, spicy and extra spicy,” said Norlaili.
Aisya Fitri added the mangrove fruit chips come in 110 gram packages, sold at Rp8,000 each. Orders can be placed at Instagram @krimangrove or Whatshapp 082338897707. “Currently, we only take orders from Yogyakarta area,” she said.
The mangrove fruit chips is born in the Student Creativity Programme for Entrepreneur. Going forward, Norlalili and friends will collaborate with the mangrove farmers and people living around the mangrove forest to develop the processing of the mangrove fruit.
“Hopefully, we can help increase the income of the mangrove farmers or people living around the mangrove forests,” she concluded.