Barito Kuala, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office (DKP Kalsel) and Muhammadiyah Banjarmasin University (UMB) launched downstream product of snakehead fish, Sunbumin.
Head of the office Rusdi Hartono representing Governor of South Kalimantan H Muhidin in Barito Kuala (Batola) District, Sunday, said the engagement of UMB in snakehead fish downstreaming shows that universities are not only the center of science, but also the center for developing regional potential.
"The Provincial Government of South Kalimantan appreciates UMB's active role in producing local potential-based product sustainably and with high competitiveness," he said.
Sunbumin is health supplement produced by students of UMB's Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FKIK) in collaboration with PT Sinergi Sukses Berdampak and Loumiora.
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Rusdi said snakehead fish is one of the province's biological riches that has high economic and nutritional value, beneficial for health, especially its albumin content.
Its development by DKP and UMB, he underlined, is a strategic step to increase the value of local commodities, create jobs, and encourage economic growth based on natural biological resources.
The mandate by Governor delivered by Rusdi, among others, South Kalimantan becomes an independent, prosperouss, and sustainable province based on regional potential advantages and local cultural wisdom.
UMB Deputy Rector Apt Risya Mulyani hopes that the launch of Sunbumin will bring benefits to the people of South Kalimantan as area that has abundant population of snakehead fish, and inspire others to explore local potential.
"It would be unfortunate if the potential of South Kalimantan's natural resources, such as haruan (snakehead) fish are not utilized for their albumin content for various purposes," said Risya representing UMB Rector Professor H Khudzaifah Dimyati.
Meanwhile, Sunbumin product downstreaming partner Ihya Nurul Islam said the launch of Sunbumin was an initial step to realize South Kalimantan's independence with natural resources.
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