For Gerai D’Pita, freshwater fish farmed in 13 tarpaulin ponds serve as the primary raw material for various fish products. Farmed fish, such as catfish, tilapia, and gourami, are processed daily into a variety of highly sought-after fish dishes. The freshwater fish dishes served are also free of MSG and benzoates, ensuring their health and nutritional value.
The absence of MSG and preservatives in the fish dishes adds value to Gerai D’Pita’s marketing efforts. In fact, the processed fish products they develop are highly sought after by the public and have a relatively broad market reach, including Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek), Bandung, Solo, Yogyakarta, and several other major cities. In fact, their products, along with those of several other MSMEs, recently penetrated the Philippine market.
“We market our products online and through traditional channels. We also offer delivery services. Some of our processed fish products are sold through cooperatives, outlets, and export markets,” said Puspitaningrum Pratiwi, owner of Gerai D’Pita, in Jakarta recently.
According to her, the current production capacity averages 10-30 kg/day. However, processed fish production is highly dependent on demand. Therefore, processed fish production is adjusted to the available fish stock. For example, fillets average 20-25 kg/day.
Puspitaningrum admitted that the key to success in her fish processing business lies not only in hard work and consistency in managing the fish processing business. To achieve added value, she not only cultivates the fish (upstream) but also processes the fish she produces. This integration of upstream and downstream operations is what has made Gerai D’Pita’s processed fish business so successful today.
