Article
The Indicator-Based Technical and Social Feasibility Assessment of Traditional Tembang Fish Smoking as a Coastal Value-Added Agribusiness in Laeya District, South Konawe Regency, Indonesia
International Journal of Agricultural Social Economics and Rural Development (Ijaserd), Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026), hlm. 1–9
Abstrak
The traditional smoking of tembang fish (Sardinella sp.) in Laeya District represents an important coastal value-added agribusiness that supports household income and local fishery resilience. This study aimed to evaluate the technical and social feasibility of small-scale smoked fish enterprises using an indicator-based descriptive scoring approach. Data were collected from 35 business actors through structured interviews, field observations, questionnaires, and documentation. The assessment covered six technical indicators and four social indicators, which were analyzed using indicator-based feasibility scores and descriptive interpretation. The findings reveal that the business demonstrates a consistently high level of technical feasibility, particularly in raw material availability, method mastery, and operational continuity, supported by the dominance of tembang fish catches, accounting for 47.9% of total fisheries production in Laeya District. Social feasibility indicators also indicate strong community acceptance, reflected in perceived contributions to local employment and household income, as well as the alignment of smoked fish products with local consumption patterns. However, the study identified several structural limitations, including reliance on traditional smoking equipment, limited storage systems, and restricted capacity for market expansion, which may constrain long-term competitiveness. This study contributes to the coastal agribusiness literature by providing an indicator-based feasibility framework for evaluating traditional fish-processing enterprises in small-scale fisheries communities. The results suggest that improving production technology, strengthening institutional support, and expanding market access are critical strategies for enhancing the sustainability and competitiveness of smoked fish microenterprises in coastal areas.