Yayasan Dharma Bhakti Astra Yayasan Dharma Bhakti Astra
MSME Info
16 February 2025 Press Release

Astra's Contribution through YDBA for MSMEs in West Manggarai, NTT

In 2021, Astra through the Astra Dharma Bhakti Foundation (YDBA) attempted to carry out its social contribution in the region by guiding agricultural MSMEs, two of which are vanilla commodities in Loha Village and cashew nuts in Repi Village. In addition to supporting the independence of MSMEs, Astra's presence through YDBA in the region is expected to make farmers in the area have a mindset as entrepreneurs.

YDBA Management Chair, Rahmat Samulo, who was present to visit vanilla and cashew nuts accompanied by the Secretary of the YDBA Management, Ema Poedjiwati Prasetio on February 10-11, 2025, said that Astra's presence through YDBA fosters vanilla and cashew nuts because both commodities have quite good potential to be developed. Samulo said that vanilla has export potential and cashew nuts have large market potential, both locally and nationally.

Samulo also added that Astra is not present with an instant coaching approach for its fostered MSMEs. Astra through YDBA is here to foster MSMEs with a structured approach and prioritize mindset changes for the MSMEs it fosters. So, the MSMEs it fosters can have a mindset as entrepreneurs, not as farmers or MSMEs. "Astra does not embrace instant, but we do it in a structured but definite way," said Samulo.

A Piece of the Story of Vanilla MSMEs in Loha Village

Who doesn't know the vanilla commodity? The commodity that is currently trending as a material for making perfume, air fresheners, soap, aromatherapy, and even flavors in various foods is being targeted by its fans. However, who would have thought that vanilla farmers, especially in the Loha Village area, West Manggarai Regency, still face various challenges, including business processes and marketing.

The response was positive, in 2021, Astra through YDBA is committed to providing guidance for vanilla MSMEs in the village. A total of 54 vanilla farmers have started participating in various coaching programs both in terms of management and cultivation techniques.

The commitment and consistency of the farmers in following the coaching program has succeeded in changing the mindset of farmers who initially only cultivated from generation to generation with existing knowledge, to become farmers with the mindset of entrepreneurs. Currently, the farmers have succeeded in changing the business model from marketing wet vanilla products to middlemen for IDR 100 thousand / kg to dry vanilla for IDR 400 thousand - IDR 1.3 million / kg. Thanks to their commitment and consistency, the farmers understand the QCD (quality, cost, delivery) standards for export quality. It is proven that, currently, the farmers have succeeded in marketing their products to the Land of Sakura and the Land of Ginseng. The Head of the Aroma Tani Vanilla Group in Loha Village, Godefridus said that the coaching provided by Astra through YDBA helped farmers who initially only marketed their products to middlemen with their wet vanilla, now they produce dry vanilla with a higher selling price. Godefridus also added that the presence of Astra through YDBA encourages farmers to continue to develop, one of which is by optimizing vanilla as a basic material to make products with added value, such as aromatherapy candles.

A Piece of the Story of Cashew UMKM in Repi Village

It takes 3 hours from Labuan Bajo to Repi Village, the location of the MSME/cashew farmers who Astra is mentoring through YDBA. The steep and winding roads do not discourage Astra or the cashew farmers from communicating with each other and improving their competence towards farmers who move up a class and become independent. From 2021 until now, YDBA has continued to strive to guide 36 cashew farmers in Repi Village.

The Head of the Cashew UMKM Farmers Group, Aventinus Dalun, said that the cashew farmers did not know that in the shells that were shaped like logs, there were cashew nuts that had high market value. They only sold the logs to middlemen for IDR 10 thousand/kg. However, Aven felt relieved and grateful because in 2021 Aven and his farmer group participated in a coaching program carried out by Astra through YDBA.

At that time, they just found out that there was a cashew commodity in the logs that they marketed to improve the economy in Repi Village, West Manggarai Regency. Since then, the farmer group has been committed to carrying out coaching until they succeeded in changing the business model from selling cashew logs to high-value processed products.

Through the "Kameku" Cashew Nut product which means "My Provisions", the cashew farmers have succeeded in selling their processed cashew products for IDR 400 thousand/kg. With quality products equipped with PIRT and Halal legality, Kameku products have now been successfully marketed in various regions in Indonesia, including the largest souvenir center in Labuan Bajo. Not only that, currently the cashew farmers are preparing a mini gallery to support the marketing process of their products.

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