41  VOLUME 17 NOMOR 1, JANUARI 2018  PENINGKATAN KUALITAS DAN NILAI FES NIRA AREN DI DESA TARO TEGALLALANG MELALUI DIVERSIFIKASI PRODUK OLAHAN D.A. Swastini 1 , Y. Ramona 2 , dan C.I.S. Arisanti 3 ABSTRAK Kandungan sukrosa, elektrolit, dan vitamin, serta bakteri probiotik dalam nira aren (Arrenga pinnata Merr) sangat berguna dalam menjaga kesehatan tubuh. Gula hasil olahan nira aren diketahui memiliki indexs glikemik rendah sehingga aman dikonsumsi dan berpotensi digunakan sebagai gula pendamping pada pasien diabetes mellitus. Hampir 90% penduduk Desa Taro mengupayakan perkebunan nira aren, akan tetapi pengolahan serta pendistribusian produk sangat terbatas. Program Ipteks bagi Masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kualitas dan nilai Fes nira aren dengan metode revitalisasi dan diversifikasi. Revitalisasi berupa sosialisasi teknik dan prosedur preparasi sebelum dan pasca panen yang luarannya diukur dengan kuisioner. Metode diversifikasi berupa pelatihan dan pendampingan pembuatan produk berupa minuman isotonik, minuman probiotik, serta gula kristal. Hasil sosialisasi menunjukkan terjadi peningkatan rata-rata pengetahuan petani sebelum (22.57%) dan sesudah (73.87%) sosialisasi. Diversifikasi produk tidak hanya meningkatkan nilai Fes nira aren, akan tetapi juga menghemat tenaga dan efisiensi waktu pengolahan. Dilengkapi dengan hasil uji laboratorium yang memenuhi standar kandungan produk, saat ini pangsa pasar produk sudah merambah daerah kawasan wisata di sekitar Kecamatan Tegallalang Gianyar. Kata kunci: nira aren, desa taro, isotonik, probiotik, gula semut ABSTRACT Sucrose, electrolyte, vitamin, as well as probiotic bacterial contents of palm juice (Arrenga pinnata Merr) are useful for the maintenance of the healthiness of human body. Due to its low glycemic index, palm sugar is safe to consume and has high potential for use as an alternative companion sugar for diabetes mellitus patients. In Taro village, almost 90% of the people there manage palm sugar plantations, but their ability to process and distribute their products is still limited. This program of Science and technology for the Society aims to improve the quality and value of FEs palm juice by applying revitalization and diversification methods. Revitalization was conducted by socializing pre and postharvest preparation techniques and procedures and the outcomes were measured by questionnaires. Diversification methods were conducted through training and advisory preparation of isotonic and probiotic drinks, as well as production of sugar crystal. The results of this socialization showed that there was an increase in average knowledge of farmers from 22.57% (before socialization) to 73.87% (after socialization). Product diversification did not only increase the value of FEs palm juice, but also saved energy and time of processing. As the product was supported by credible results of laboratory tests, this product is currently marketed in some tourist destinations, such as Tegallalang, Gianyar. Keywords: palm sugar, taro village, isotonic, probiotic, sugar crystal 1 Staf Pengajar Jurusan Farmasi FMIPA Universitas Udayana, ayu_swastini@unud.ac.id 2 Staf Pengajar Jurusan Biologi FMIPA Universitas Udayana, yan_ramona@yahoo.com 3 Staf Pengajar Jurusan Farmasi FMIPA Universitas Udayana, cis_arisanti@unud.ac.id