Langkat, North Sumatra – The Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), continues to demonstrate its commitment to community empowerment through the downstream development of products based on local wisdom. Through a community service program held in Namo Sialang Village, Batang Serangan District, Langkat Regency, on Saturday, 4 July 2026, the Faculty of Forestry USU assisted the local community in strengthening the identity and market competitiveness of the traditional herbal product Nandeta Sembur Pratahi by developing a more attractive and marketable packaging design.
The community service program carried the theme, "Downstream Development of the Traditional Karo Herbal Medicine Sembur Pratahi Through the Preservation of Local Wisdom to Support the Achievement of the SDGs." The activity was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry USU, Prof. Dr. Arida Susilowati, S.Hut., M.Si., accompanied by Vice Dean I Dr. Tito Sucipto, S.Hut., M.Si., Vice Dean II Dr. Luthfi Hakim, S.Hut., M.Si., Vice Dean III Dr. Anita Zaitunah, S.Hut., M.Sc., Head of the Undergraduate Forestry Study Program Dr. Evalina Herawati, S.Hut., M.Si., Secretary of the Master's Program in Forestry Dr. Deni Elfiati, S.Hut., M.Si., along with several lecturers from the Faculty of Forestry USU. Also present were Jamaluddin, Head of the Tangkahan Resort, and Joni Rahmad, Tangkahan Resort Officer, who supported the program as part of a collaborative effort to empower communities living around forest areas.
One of the main agendas of the program was mentoring the women's group of Namo Sialang Village, led by Mrs. Irni. The group has developed Nandeta Sembur Pratahi Herbal Tea, a traditional herbal product based on Karo ethnic medicinal recipes that utilize the region's rich biodiversity and indigenous knowledge as its primary ingredients. As part of the product downstreaming process, the Faculty of Forestry USU team assisted in refining the product packaging to make it more modern, informative, and attractive to consumers. The new packaging also incorporates the identity of Universitas Sumatera Utara as a representation of the university's academic assistance in community product development. This improvement is expected to enhance consumer confidence while strengthening the position of Nandeta Sembur Pratahi as a competitive local herbal product.
This mentoring initiative represents one of the university's efforts to bridge academic research with community needs. By strengthening product branding and identity, the Faculty of Forestry USU aims to help the community not only produce high-quality products but also present them in packaging that meets the demands of the modern market.
This initiative forms part of the Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara's commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through community empowerment based on local potential. The development of Nandeta Sembur Pratahi supports SDG 1 (No Poverty) by increasing the product's added value, thereby creating opportunities to improve community income. The development of traditional herbal products derived from local biodiversity also contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity as a source of food and economically valuable herbal products that strengthen local livelihoods. Furthermore, the preservation and promotion of traditional Karo herbal knowledge support SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by highlighting the potential of traditional medicine as part of efforts to improve public health and well-being sustainably.