Empower Women with Sustainable Livelihood

The INFEST Foundation conducted a community meeting on Saturday, 1 November 2025, in Pondok Village. The meeting was attended by 38 participants, comprising representatives and management members of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Community (Komunitas Pekerja Migran Indonesia – KOPI) and KOPI-owned enterprises (Badan Usaha Milik KOPI – BUM-KOPI) from five villages. The primary objective of the meeting was to assess the ongoing community-based business activities managed by KOPI and BUM-KOPI at the village level.

Business Updates from BUM-KOPI

BUM-KOPI Gelanglor

Marsudi, Chairperson of BUM-KOPI Gelanglor, reported that previous business activities—namely fried shallot production and snack processing—had been discontinued. The enterprise has shifted its focus to agricultural production, specifically rice cultivation. Utilizing village-owned land (tanah bengkok) allocated by the village head for KOPI management, the group completed its first rice planting cycle, generating a net income of IDR 2,000,000, which was deposited into the BUM-KOPI cash account. The group is currently entering the second planting cycle. With the potential for three harvests per year, the estimated annual income for BUM-KOPI Gelanglor is IDR 6,000,000.

BUM-KOPI Pondok

Arif Yulianto explained that BUM-KOPI Pondok continues to operate small-scale service-based businesses, including stationery sales, printing services, and online vehicle tax services. While these activities remain operational, growth has been gradual. To diversify income sources, BUM-KOPI Pondok has expanded into rice farming by leasing village-owned land. To date, the group has completed two planting cycles and one harvest. With an annual land rental cost of IDR 2,400,000 and a net income of IDR 2,000,000 per harvest, the enterprise is projected to earn approximately IDR 4,000,000 per year, with plans to expand the cultivated area.

BUM-KOPI Karangpatihan

BUM-KOPI Karangpatihan reported progress in its chair rental service, which has been implemented in partnership with a wedding organizer. The service has generated initial revenue of IDR 500,000, which has been recorded in the BUM-KOPI cash balance.

BUM-KOPI Ngendut

BUM-KOPI Ngendut reported engaging in commodity trading, specifically the purchase and storage of 1,300 kilograms of peanuts valued at IDR 20,800,000. The commodities are stored in a warehouse and will be sold when market prices increase. The current available cash balance stands at IDR 1,920,000.

BUM-KOPI Bringinan

BUM-KOPI Bringinan continues to manage a goat breeding enterprise using a community-based share-rearing system (gaduhan). Currently, 16 goats are being raised by community members who are also members of KOPI.

Discussion on the KOPI Ponorogo Cooperative

The second session focused on discussions regarding the KOPI Ponorogo Cooperative. Participants agreed that the Sobat TKI shop had been officially closed due to operational considerations. The cooperative currently holds a cash balance of approximately IDR 11,000,000.

Based on collective deliberation, it was agreed that part of the cooperative’s funds would be allocated to establish an additional iced tea (es teh) business outlet in Pondok Village, replicating a business model that has proven successful in Ponorogo. In addition, members proposed allocating a portion of cooperative funds to rice cultivation, given its relatively predictable returns and potential to restore the cooperative’s initial capital.

Conclusion

The meeting served as a crucial platform for joint evaluation, shared learning, and strategic planning among KOPI and BUM-KOPI members. The discussions highlighted a growing preference for low-risk, productive economic activities, particularly in agriculture, and underscored the importance of collective decision-making and prudent financial management in strengthening community-based enterprises.

BLITAR – The Indonesian Migrant Workers' Community (KOPI) in Blitar Regency is taking strong steps to secure economic independence for its members. At the KOPI Gogodeso Secretariat, INFEST Foundation, in collaboration with AWO International, organized a strategic session titled "Formulating the 2026 Community Business Development Plan" on Saturday (Dec 13, 2025).

 The meeting was attended by 32 board members of KOPI and Community-Owned Businesses (BUMKOPI) from five villages: Gogodeso, Jatinom, Pandanarum, Lorejo, and Sumberagung. The primary focus was to transform three years of operational experience into a methodical and measurable Follow-Up Plan (RTL).

 Edi Purwanto, Project Officer for INFEST in Blitar, emphasized that this planning responds to the business dynamics observed since late 2022. "We noted varying results; some units have thrived, while others stagnated. This reflection is the foundation for a more mature strategy, ensuring community businesses don't just survive, but flourish," he explained.

Business Outlook: Strategy Across Three Villages

During the focus group discussions, three KOPI chairpersons presented their roadmaps for expansion and innovation:

 1. KOPI Jatinom: Retail Expansion and Contemporary Beverages

The Chairperson of KOPI Jatinom, Sundoko, revealed plans for diversification into "Es Teh" (Iced Tea) and a Basic Food Supply (Sembako) store. "We chose the iced tea business for its low entry cost and healthy margins. However, consistency and location are key. For the retail store, we will prioritize digital inventory management to ensure efficiency," he noted.

2. KOPI Gogodeso: Strengthening the Reseller Network KOPI

 Gogodeso, which already operates a retail business, will shift its focus toward partnership strategies. Chairperson Ainun Naim plans to engage local small stalls as agents or resellers. "We are also launching a loyalty program for members to stay competitive against established grocery stores," Naim added.

3. KOPI Pandanarum: Agricultural Innovation through Organic Fertilizer.

The agricultural sector remains the backbone of KOPI Pandanarum. Chairperson Sudarmianto stressed the importance of legal certification for their organic fertilizer. "Our 2026 target is product certification. We want our fertilizer to penetrate markets beyond our village with standardized quality, achieved through collaboration with agricultural experts," he asserted.

Toward Sustainable Independence

The session resulted in specific, measurable, and strategic development plans for each village. This collaboration between INFEST, AWO International, and KOPI aims to ensure that these community enterprises serve not only as support systems but also as the economic engine for Migrant Workers' families.

By implementing these measured plans, the community businesses are expected to create local jobs and ensure that remittances sent home are transformed into sustainable, productive assets.