Village products face challenges on Packaging and Legality
Trigadu was one of the villages attended the Reflection on the Synergy of Stakeholders in the Movement of Community Empowerment and Fair and Welfare Natural Resource Management in West Kalimantan, organized by Gemawan institute, at Kapuas Palace Hotel, Pontianak, Thursday (4/4).
In the event, at least 135 villages were present coming from Sintang, Kubu Raya, Ketapang, North Kayong, Sambas, Kapuas Hulu, Mempawah, Singkawang, Bengkayang and Sanggau regencies.
Trigadu Village itself is located in Galing District, Sambas Regency. To optimize the potential in the village, the Head of Trigadu Village, Sugiarto, said that he has established a Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes) since December 2016. Unfortunately, there was only one product managed by BUMDes, which was papaya dodol.
He stated, the product had been running even near Eid celebration last year. There was a lot of orders coming, yet the marketing only covered areas around the village.
Because he considered this product to have quite big potential, with Sambas Polytechnic, he collaborated to buy a dodol mixer tool.
“So, the tool was facilitated by the village, but the purchase was in collaboration with the Sambas Polytechnic,” he said.
After being processed and managed, in the middle of the way, the marketing of the village’s superior product was stopped. It was because the packaging was not attractive and the confusion to market it later if it is produced in large quantities.
Besides packaging, our problem was also about marketing. It means that when the production was in large quantities, our marketing was not widespread yet. Moreover, the durability was not long.” he mentioned.
In fact, the legality was processed, the Department of Trade even conducted a durability test already.
“We have processed the legality at the Department of Trade in Sambas, but it has not been issued.” he said.
He hopes that the local government, in this case Sambas Regency, can provide assistance to his village. Especially considering that today there is a lot of potential that can be worked on there.
He stated, papaya dodol was not the only village potential that could be developed. It also has a strategic location that can be made as an embankment.
“I see it similar with Mempawah. There are river resources. If possible, there is a pond on the river bank. It is actually suitable there (Trigadu Village), but now it is not managed yet since there is no funding.” he concluded.
In West Kalimantan, there are at least more than 600 BUMDes which have been formed, but only about 50 percent are active, or around 300. This was conveyed by the Head of the Department of Community and Village Empowerment of West Kalimantan Province, Aminuddin.
“So, I hope that the inactive BUMDes will be mobilized immediately, including villages which have not formed (BUMDes).” he explained.
He said that the challenges and problems in managing BUMDes were due to limited Human Resources (HR). In addition, the assistance from the local government, such as the head of the district, the regent, and the assistant group has not been intensive.
“That was when I got into Village Government (Pemdes). I invited my friends who handled the village government, so that besides strengthening the village apparatus, fellow assistants should also be strengthened. If there are not enough people yet, please help. “he said.
He explained, similar with BUMDes, they should have the ability to economically manage the potential in the village.
What he intended was that the village must be able to identify what potential the village has, which can be developed or managed, with the hope that it can improve the community’s economy.
“So, if in there (the village), it is suitable for managing agriculture, then manage it. Likewise, if it is suitable for fisheries or livestock.” he explained.
If in the management, the village is challenged by capital, then the community can work with the bank. However, he mentioned, on the condition that the business institution had actually been formed and all its management had the ability to manage the product. That way, it will gradually be ensured that it can become income for the village.
He gave an example such as Kajati Village, Rasau Jaya Tiga Village which opened a simple tourism place, but had a quite big income.
“It is very simple. They made an irrigation, there are four swan boats in the water, but they can make money. People ride them (swan boats) for 15 minutes, and that’s it. Their income can be Rp30 million a month.” he explained.
“Not to mention parking, or the ones that open stalls. So that’s how it is, the tool is simple but has potential, “he added.
He said, the main duty and function of the provincial government is to support what the regency or village governments cannot do. To implement it, they also have to refer to the authority of the party or use an alternative grant. Similar with with regency or village governments, for example regarding electricity distribution.
The supply of electricity to villages is one of the keys to how this potential can be developed. It is not merely a matter of electric lighting, providing electricity to factories or warehouses. In fact, he ensures that the internet network will be able to be in, if the village has been provided with electricity. However, this is not the authority of his party.
“For example, the tower, Telkom, is not our authority,” he said.
Starting from that, he hopes that the role of companies around the village can also be involved. At least, they can share the electricity if the company has its own power plant.
“Please, distribute it to the village so that the community can enjoy the electricity,” he strictly mentioned.
Likewise, the marketing strategy. He explained that when the management of the local BUMDes is developed, the provincial government has already prepared a business forum.
From this business forum will later bring together business people and producers. They are facilitated to communicate and do business by the Department of Trade and Industry. With clear requirements for production and fulfilment of the required quota.
Regarding the permit or legality, the process is faster because currently there is a one-stop service. All the permit processes are online based. However, the people have to come to the Office of One-Stop Integrated Service to do verification. Unfortunately, this system is currently only running in the province and Pontianak city.
“That is called accelerating service. In Pontianak city, it is already running, in the province it is already working a well. That is called the Department of One Stop Integrated Service, “he concluded.
To optimize the potential in the village, the Director of Gemawan Institute, Laily Khainur said the most important thing is to build public awareness that it is time for local products to be developed.
During the implementation of the community empowerment program of Gemawan Institute, the challenge mostly felt was the difficulty of building an entrepreneurial spirit within the community itself. Because, the people often feel satisfied with what they have done so far, and there is no desire to develop business anymore.
In fact, in several villages there are already producers willing to order local products in large quantities. However, because the amount of production was not balanced, the it caused the quota did not met.
“For example, like black rice, we have tried to promote it to Jakarta and someone wants to take it. But after calculating, the cost is large because it comes from Sintang Regency, “he said.
Regarding BUMDes, to him, the role of BUMDes is an important aspect of the independent village index assessment. Because, with this existence of the business entity, it is hoped that it will be able to contribute to the welfare of the village community itself.
Because when we talk about BUMDes, it means talking about governance, participation and institution which was built from shared capital.
“That is also the most important thing, because it will have an impact on social aspects,” he concluded.