Survivors of 2018 Earthquake and Tsunami in Donggala Build Businesses
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6 January 2022 17:37 WIB
IN the beginning, the business groups started only by focusing on one venture. The Usaha Bersama Group only produced and sold fish floss. In Lompio village, the women groups of Melati and Sejati chose farming.
Sejati Group rents a 58 x 62 square meter garden which costs Rp3 million per year to plant vegetables, such as long beans, cucumber and spinach. Melati Group does the same by renting half a hectare of land and plants it with vegetables; once they planted the field with corn. “We harvest three times a week,” said Mardiyah, 51, chairperson of Sejati Group, while adding during the first three months, her group has reaped more than Rp3 million.
Members of Melati group preparing hydroponics farming, December 15, 2021.
They sell the vegetables in various ways. They sell them directly to sellers who come to the garden, some members sell the vegetables in the market, while others market them around the village by motorcycles. Meanwhile, for the garden management, they work in turns.
It did not take long for the business to develop. The Usaha Bersama Group has used the second and third aids to develop the business to sell a variety of food and rent shop. The Sejati Group bought a 58 x 52 square meter clove plantation and a 72 x 18 square meter coffee plantation. They have started to harvest coffee even though the amount is only around 8 kilograms. “(It) was sold for Rp16,000 per kilogram,” said Saida, member of Sejati Group.
At the same time, the Melati Group has added their businesses, which are savings and loans and pertamini (small-scale gas station). For the savings and loans business, people who were not the group’s members could borrow money with low interest. So far, according to Arwati, chairperson of the Melati Group, the savings and loans business and the pertamini had resulted profits of more than Rp2 million and Rp3 million respectively. “Farming gives profits of around Rp1.5 million per month,” said the 49-year-old woman. The Melati Group has now started a hydroponic gardening.
The women claimed not to have significant obstacles in developing their business. There was a time when the Sejati and Melati Groups failed in harvesting corn, but that did not break their spirit. Sometimes there were also small tensions among members. “But we are used to discussing it and it can be solved,” said Raodatul.
Member of Sejati group working in their vegetable farm in Lompio, Sirenja, Donggala, Central Sulawesi, December 15, 2021.
Quite the contrary, they admitted that they have gained huge benefits. Aside from the vegetable garden, they also have two businesses, individual business and group business that provide additional earnings. Besides share from the group, there is also earning from working in the group like from doing shop keeping. “So, (it is) enough to help family’s needs,” said Raodatul.
In addition, there is help during difficult times. “The group is like relatives, helping each other,” Ulfa Asri said. There is also the benefit of new knowledge.
According to Tri Yonanita their biggest contribution comes from the people. “They want to fight.” Nevertheless, they feel that they still need help. “We still need further training, like in packaging,” Raodatul said. Also, help in terms of the permit and halal (conforming to Islamic law) certificate.
On several occasions, Care Peduli and Penabulu connected these groups with relevant government institutions, such as the Cooperative Agency. “They will provide the trainings,” said Hilda. They also introduced market network and ready to accommodate the groups’ produces. This motivated the group. “We will keep developing the business as much as we can,” said Mardiyah.
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