PEMBERDAYAAN KELOMPOK PEREMPUAN DALAM PENGEMBANGAN USAHA KULINER TRADISIONAL JATIGEDE

Abstract

This research is titled "Empowerment of Women's Groups in the Development of Traditional Culinary Businesses in Jatigede." Empowerment should be carried out using the 5P approach, which includes enabling, strengthening, protecting, supporting, and maintaining. The objectives of community empowerment include improving education, accessibility, and actions. Empowerment can also focus on women by providing access and control over resources in economic, political, social, and cultural domains. It serves as a process to develop and empower communities so they can maximize their potential and identity. The methodology used adapts the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach, a method developed to enhance community participation in development. PRA is considered the most suitable method for identifying existing situations in communities. The program implementation involves several steps: preliminary surveys to identify problems, preparation for outreach activities, coordination with relevant experts to produce educational materials, coordination with the target group (the sugar palm culinary business development group), and activity evaluation. Based on preliminary survey results, the main issues faced in empowering sugar palm businesses include monkey pests, deforestation for starch production, scarcity of firewood, and marketing through middlemen. Empowering women's groups in traditional culinary development has significant potential to improve community economic welfare while preserving cultural heritage. In Jatigede District, Sumedang, this potential is supported by traditional culinary richness such as sugar palm. However, traditional culinary entrepreneurs, especially women, often face challenges like limited access to training, capital, technology, and modern marketing. The construction of Jatigede Dam as a national strategic project has social and economic impacts on surrounding communities. The relocation of residents from affected areas has altered traditional livelihoods, causing many residents—especially women—to lose stable jobs. In this context, empowering communities, particularly women's groups through traditional culinary businesses, can be a strategic solution to enhance economic independence and strengthen social resilience post-relocation. The challenges faced by these women's groups include a lack of innovative entrepreneurial training, weak business management skills, and minimal support for product development and digital marketing. Therefore, empowerment should not only focus on economic aspects but also consider strengthening their social and cultural capacities. This aligns with research schemes aimed at encouraging local-based and sustainable community empowerment. In Jemah Village, Jatigede District of Sumedang Regency, there exists a group of women developing traditional culinary businesses centered around sugar palm. This group is seen as having substantial potential to address issues in Jemah Village while increasing family income.