Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Developing business potential in an area can be one way to encourage society and the region to become more advanced. This potential can be of various types. In fact, typical agricultural products in the region can also be created into unique products which can later become icons in the region.
This is also what the people of Waluran Tonggoh Village, Sukalaksana Village, Kec. Samarang, Kab. Garut. For a long time, people in this area have been known for their profession as coffee and vetiver farmers. Both are different ingredients, but when combined they can produce a beverage product with a distinctive taste.
Adi Ahmad Nasir (32) is the figure behind the scenes of the Akar Wangi Coffee business cluster which was developed by the local community. As cluster leader, his determination is to always bring his business group cluster so that it can continue to be better than before.
He talked about how this innovative idea initially emerged which became the main strength of his business cluster. Initially, they had income from Arabica coffee and vetiver, so the discourse arose to make a combination of coffee and vetiver
“Starting in 2017, a vetiver coffee processing business was started, but the idea had been around since 2015. However, at that time it was still not as big as it is now. Since receiving assistance from BRI, our business has increased. We have received a lot of assistance starting from marketing, packaging, labels “halal and other labels. Thank God, thanks to assistance from BRI, previously it was only consumed by ourselves or sold to shops, now the marketing is more developed,” said Adi in a written statement quoted on Sunday (19/11/2023).
The Akar Wangi Coffee business cluster itself has developed into 14 business groups. Over time, this business cluster also has a positive impact on the welfare of the surrounding community.
“Thank God, there has been a lot of impact on the welfare of the group. In the past it was only a little, now we have added clusters of group members. Apart from that, there has also been an increase in the economy, if previously we only managed 10-50 kg, now Alhamdulillah we can manage 1-2 quintals,” he continued.
According to Adi, the process of making Akar Wangi coffee is almost the same as regular coffee, only involving 2 (two) stages, namely, the first is the process of making the coffee itself, where after harvesting, the coffee beans are washed, dried in the sun and put into a machine. pulper to separate from the seeds. The second process is in-roasting and in-grinder until it becomes powder. Once it becomes powder, then mix it with vetiver.
Meanwhile, vetiver processing is also done in almost the same way. The vetiver roots are harvested every 10-12 months, the roots are taken, then washed until clean and dried in the sun. After that, the grinder process is carried out to make it into powder so that it can be mixed with coffee powder.
The entire process of making vetiver coffee is carried out in a room greenhouses which is located near the tourist village.
“We deliberately chose this location so that there would be income. So if you visit the tourist village you can also see the process of making vetiver coffee, from drying, upstream to downstream. For drinks in the tourist village itself, we are also required to use vetiver coffee,” Adi explained.
The products produced by the Akar Wangi Coffee Business Cluster are marketed through Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDES). “If there are activities at BUMDES, our products can also be souvenirs or souvenirs,” he added.
BRI Support and Assistance
Adi explained the big role of BRI in encouraging the Akar Wangi Coffee Business Cluster to grow to this day. It all started when Sukalaksana Village took part in the BRILian Village program, was able to be nominated and became a champion which made it then become a BRI assisted village. From there, opportunities for community empowerment become increasingly wide open.
“The form of support from BRI is in the form of facilities and infrastructure in running this Akar Wangi Coffee Business Cluster. We get assistance from greenhouses and equipment from upstream to downstream. From upstream, for example, tools from the harvesting process, processing equipment, to packaging in “downstream, everything is assistance from BRI,” said Adi.
Apart from facilities and infrastructure, they also receive training and assistance related to management and marketing so that they can become an independent business cluster. “We already have that too coffee shop outlets modern in the Parabon Rest Area. In the past we could only sell, now we already have the downstream, we already have the tools, so we make it coffee shop too,” he explained.
Apart from that, if there are activities held by BRI, the Akar Wangi Coffee Cluster is always invited and displayed as a BRI product. This is also an effort to introduce the business cluster to the wider community.
On a separate occasion, BRI Micro Business Director Supari revealed that the ‘My Cluster is My Life’ Business Cluster program become a forum for MSME players to develop their business. Through various mentoring activities, MSME players can get the opportunity to develop their products.
“We are committed to continuing to accompany and help MSMEs, not only in the form of business capital but also through business training and other empowerment programs so that MSMEs can continue to grow and become more resilient,” he concluded.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
Next Article
This BRI-Business Cluster Successfully Empowers the Elderly
(nightingale)