Empower Women with Sustainable Livelihood

As part of efforts to promote community-based enterprises, KOPI Ponorogo organized a product promotion activity at Gadung Melati, a local souvenir center owned by the Ponorogo Regency Government. Gadung Melati is an initiative launched by Sugiri Sancoko, the Regent of Ponorogo.

Although Gadung Melati is a relatively new facility, it attracts a steady flow of visitors. Official guests from both domestic and international institutions are routinely brought to this venue. Selected products sold at Gadung Melati also have the opportunity to be used as official souvenirs for government guests, provided that the products meet requirements related to attractive packaging and complete business licensing.

Products Showcased by KOPI Communities

KOPI groups from five villages participated in this promotional activity, each showcasing products developed in their respective communities:

• KOPI Ngendut displayed woven bags handcrafted by returnee migrant workers. These uniquely designed products are well suited for women, both for daily use and formal occasions.

• KOPI Karangpatihan promoted a variety of snacks and processed food products. One producer, Darmi, shared that her fried meatball (penthol goreng) product has already reached international markets, including Hong Kong.

• KOPI Bringinan presented butterfly pea flower tea and tofu by-product chips.

• KOPI Gelanglor showcased fried shallots and cengkuk chips as their flagship products.

• KOPI Pondok introduced tempeh chips, rangginan, and fried shallots.

Response from Gadung Melati Management

The arrival of KOPI representatives from the five villages was warmly welcomed by Mas Feri, the manager of Gadung Melati. He explained that Gadung Melati was established as a platform to support and promote local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Ponorogo. Currently, the center still faces a shortage of product variety and stock, making collaboration with groups such as KOPI highly desirable.

Gadung Melati expressed strong interest in accepting KOPI products, with the main recommendation being improvements in packaging to meet souvenir center standards. This would allow the products to be suitable as official gifts for visiting government guests. Regarding business licensing, the management stated their readiness to assist KOPI groups and encouraged them to reach out if they encountered any administrative challenges.

Business Licensing Support

In addition to product promotion, KOPI also undertook efforts to strengthen business legality through licensing facilitation. Four KOPI groups—KOPI Gelanglor, KOPI Pondok, KOPI Bringinan, and KOPI Karangpatihan—participated in the licensing process.

The focus of this session was obtaining the Business Identification Number (NIB), as NIB and PIRT (Home Industry Food Production Permit) apply specifically to food products. Products from KOPI Ngendut, which are handicrafts, do not require NIB or PIRT. The PIRT licensing process will be conducted at a later stage, as it requires ready-to-sell products.

The Regular Business Meeting was conducted on June 30, 2025, in Pondok Village, Ponorogo, as part of INFEST Yogyakarta’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community-based economic initiatives led by the Indonesian Migrant Workers Community (Komunitas Pekerja Migran Indonesia – KOPI). The meeting specifically focused on evaluating and strengthening business units managed by KOPI-owned community enterprises (Badan Usaha Milik KOPI – BUM KOPI) at the village level.

The activity brought together representatives of village-level BUM KOPI to review business progress, identify challenges, and agree on short-term business plans. The meeting was attended by 39 participants, consisting of 15 men and 24 women, all of whom are members or managers of KOPI and BUM KOPI structures in Ponorogo. The strong participation of women reflects the inclusive approach promoted in community-based economic development under this program.

Objectives and Content

The meeting aimed to:

• Review and evaluate the implementation and progress of business activities managed by each village-level BUM KOPI;

• Identify key challenges, operational obstacles, and potential opportunities for strengthening existing businesses and exploring alternative business models; and

• Agree on a three-month business plan for each village-level BUM KOPI.

Each village representative presented an update on their business performance, followed by a facilitated discussion to reflect on lessons learned and future directions.

Key Learnings and Achievements

Several important developments were highlighted during the meeting:

• BUM KOPI Bringinan currently manages a goat-fattening business involving 13 goats, overseen by four members. As of June 2025, the business generated a profit of IDR 2.7 million. To improve efficiency and management, the group plans to consolidate livestock into a single communal pen.

• BUM KOPI Ngendut continues to focus on agricultural commodity trading. During the current year, the group purchased 2.9 tons of rice grain, with total business assets valued at approximately IDR 20 million.

• BUM KOPI Pondok operates a banner printing business and has expanded into agricultural production. The group earned IDR 2.4 million from its most recent rice harvest and expects to complete two additional harvest cycles within the year. In addition, the group plans to launch a stationery promotion targeting school students.

• BUM KOPI Gelanglor is preparing to cultivate rice on land provided by the Village Head, which has been entrusted to KOPI for collective management. This collaboration reflects growing support from village authorities for community-based economic initiatives.

• BUM KOPI Karangpatihan has initiated a chair rental business and currently owns 105 chairs as business assets. The group has established cooperation with a local wedding organizer to expand market access and increase utilization of rental equipment.

Reflection and Next Steps

The meeting demonstrated that village-level BUM KOPI units are gradually developing diverse and context-specific business models, ranging from agriculture and livestock to services and small-scale enterprises. Participants acknowledged that while progress has been made, ongoing mentoring, improved financial management, and stronger market linkages remain critical to sustaining and scaling these initiatives.

As a follow-up, each BUM KOPI agreed to finalize and implement its three-month business plan, while INFEST will continue to provide facilitation and technical support to strengthen governance, reporting mechanisms, and business sustainability.