Kelompok Wanita Tani Sukses Ekspor Produk Turunan Kelapa Organik

Summary

Rizki, a member of KWT Nira Lestari, a women's farming group in Magelang, Indonesia, shares her journey into agriculture and entrepreneurship. The group focuses on coconut-based products like coconut sugar and vegan honey, capitalizing on the region's vast coconut resources. Rizki, motivated by her mother's concerns and community economic struggles, pursued further education and sought mentorship from experts. Her initiatives transformed KWT Nira Lestari into PT Nira Lestari International, expanding the business to global markets. Rizki emphasizes the profitability of agriculture and encourages young people to engage in farming, highlighting its potential and impact.

Takeaways

• 👩‍🌾 Rizki is a member of the KWT Nira Lestari, a women's farming group focused on coconut-derived products in Magelang.
• 🌴 The main product of KWT Nira Lestari is coconut-derived goods due to the vast coconut plantations in the region, covering about 5,000 hectares.
• 🌍 The group was formed to help local women stay in the village and contribute to their family economy without leaving home, addressing concerns about family neglect when women worked far away.
• 🎓 Rizki decided to support the farming group after her mother expressed concern about the group losing its sole buyer, prompting Rizki to base her thesis on improving product quality and learning about branding and digital marketing.
• 📈 Through hard work and learning, Rizki helped the group increase sales to one ton per month, realizing this was still not enough to uplift the local economy.
• 🏫 After completing her undergraduate degree, Rizki pursued a master's in chemistry at UGM and worked with Professor Bambang, an expert in coconut research, to develop new products like VCO and improve product quality.
• 🍯 Inspired by her studies and a trip to Thailand, Rizki successfully developed vegan honey (nectar) from coconut flowers as a new product offering.
• 💼 KWT Nira Lestari transitioned into PT Nira Lestari International in 2022 to accommodate increased demand and formalize operations for larger-scale production and export.
• 🏅 Rizki continues to support her community while pursuing a doctoral degree, and she has a vision to provide scholarships for farmers' children and create a business internship program for young entrepreneurs.
• 🌱 Rizki encourages young people not to be ashamed of pursuing careers in agriculture, highlighting its profitability and the opportunity to positively impact many lives.

Q & A

What is the main product of the KWT Nira Lestari group?

The main product of the KWT Nira Lestari group is coconut-based derivative products, including coconut sugar (gula semut), VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil), and vegan honey made from coconut flowers.

Why was the KWT Nira Lestari group formed?

The group was formed to provide an alternative source of income for the women in the village, who previously had to leave the village or the country to support their families, often leading to family neglect.

What inspired Rizki to become involved in agriculture?

Rizki was inspired by her mother, who expressed concern when the only buyer for KWT Nira Lestari's products stopped purchasing. This led Rizki to make her thesis about improving the quality of the group’s products and helping with digital marketing and branding.

How did Rizki's involvement help improve the group's economic situation?

Rizki applied her knowledge of digital marketing, branding, and business strategies, which resulted in increasing the group's sales from zero to one ton per month.

Why did Rizki decide to continue her education at UGM instead of pursuing an international scholarship?

Rizki chose to continue her studies at UGM so she could stay in Indonesia and contribute directly to improving the economic situation in her village, particularly by working with Professor Bambang, an expert on coconuts.

What are some of the additional products that KWT Nira Lestari has developed besides coconut sugar?

In addition to coconut sugar, KWT Nira Lestari has developed VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) and a vegan honey made from coconut flowers.

What challenges did KWT Nira Lestari face when they started exporting their products?

One of the challenges was that the group had not yet registered as a legal entity, which was necessary to meet buyer and exporter requirements. This led them to transition from a women's farming group to a formal legal entity, PT Nira Lestari International.

When was PT Nira Lestari International officially established?

PT Nira Lestari International was officially established in 2022, while the original KWT Nira Lestari group was founded in 2015 and the Nira Lestari Makmur cooperative in 2017.

What role does the Nira Lestari Makmur cooperative play in the community?

The cooperative helps organize local women, providing them with seminars on product quality, organizing general meetings, and distributing financial returns to members.

What is Rizki's vision for PT Nira Lestari International in the future?

Rizki hopes that PT Nira Lestari International can provide CSR initiatives like scholarships for the children of farmers and become a business internship hub for young entrepreneurs interested in agriculture.