Optimizing the Cost and Profit of Gourami Fish Cultivation Through the Application of Cymath Application-Assisted Two-Variable Linear Equations

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FORMOSA NEWS

Deli Serdang, North Sumatra — Optimizing the Cost and Profit of Gourami Fish Cultivation through the Application of Two-Variable Linear Equations Assisted by the Cymath Application. This research was conducted by Arisan Candra Nainggolan and Sondang Noverica from the Mathematics Education Study Program of the Catholic University of Santo Thomas, which was published in  the Journal of Community Service Formosa (JPMF) in February 2026.

Research conducted by Arisan Candra Nainggolan and Sondang Noverica revealed that simple application-based mathematics can help farmers optimize costs and increase the potential profits of gourami fish farming.

Post-disaster feed crisis and the choice of gourami as a solution

Floods and landslides that hit 19 districts/cities in North Sumatra caused damage to agricultural land and disruption of the distribution of feed raw materials. The price of manufactured animal feed has increased sharply. Residents of Tanjung Anom Village, most of whom have side businesses in the fisheries and livestock sectors, are directly affected.

In these conditions, gourami fish was chosen as a strategic alternative. Gurami is known to be resistant to water conditions with low oxygen, relatively low mortality rates, and has stable market demand. Another advantage is that gourami can consume alternative feed in large proportions without interfering with optimal growth.

Arisan Candra Nainggolan and Noverica emphasized that the combination of factory feed and alternative feed can significantly reduce costs. This approach not only reduces dependence on pellets, but also opens up opportunities for the utilization of local resources such as leaves, bran, azolla, and agricultural waste.

Mathematics as a tool to calculate production costs

In the training, participants are taught to build simple models such as:

• Total daily feed.
• The price of each type of feed.
• Total cost available.

The model is then fed into the Cymath application to get a quick and structured solution.

One example of the case given is a combination of pellets and forage with a total of 12 kg of feed and a total cost of Rp60,000 per day. The results of the calculation show the optimal composition:

• 3 kg pellets
• 9 kg forage

This composition meets nutritional needs while keeping costs within budget. Participants also practiced calculating the number of pools based on the manufacturing budget. From the cost simulation of IDR 8,000,000 with a combination of an earthen pond and a tarpaulin pond, the calculation shows the most financially realistic proportion of soil and tarpaulin ponds. Out of 20 participants, 18 chose the tarpaulin pool because the initial cost was lower and maintenance was easier.

Three main findings of the activity

Based on the evaluation of questionnaires and observations during the training, the team noted three key findings:

1. All participants were able to use the Cymath application to solve simple optimization problems.
2. The combination of alternative feeds reduces dependence on pellets and opens up significant savings opportunities.
3. Tarpaulin pools are the most popular choice because they are flexible and suitable for small-medium business scales.

In addition, the type of alternative feed that most participants chose was forage (papaya leaves, taro leaves, kale) and aquatic plants such as azolla and lemna.

 

Simple technology, real impact

This approach shows that mathematical literacy and digital literacy can go hand in hand. With the help of a free app on mobile phones, farmers can:

• Calculate feed needs precisely.
• Control production costs before starting the cultivation cycle.
• Make pool investment decisions based on mathematical simulations.
• Avoid losses due to inaccurate manual calculations.

Implications for education and village empowerment

This program shows that universities can play a direct role in helping the community overcome economic problems through an applicable scientific approach. The Service Learning-based training model allows students and lecturers to be directly involved in real-world problem-solving.

The resulting recommendations include:

• Advanced training on digital application-based production cost optimization.
• Development of simple modules of applied mathematics for farmers and MSME actors.
• Long-term assistance so that cultivation practices are more structured.
• Integration of digital literacy in village economic empowerment programs.

 

Author Profile

• Arisan Candra Nainggolan Mathematics Education Study Program, Saint Thomas Catholic University. 
• Sondang Noverica Mathematics Education Study Program, Saint Thomas Catholic University. 

Research Source

Nainggolan, A. C., & Noverica, S. (2026). Optimizing the Cost and Profit of Gourami Fish Cultivation Through the Application of Cymath Application-Assisted Two-Variable Linear Equations.

Journal of Community Service Formosa (JPMF), Vol. 5 No. 1, pp. 1–14.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jpmf.v5i1.132

Official URL: https://ntlformosapublisher.org/index.php/jpmf