The Jackfruit Jackpot

Pagon village producers' group displays jackfruit snacks. Photo: IPS/Abigail Lee "Girls in this part of the country get married after class 12," says 25-year-old Yayah. "Hoping for a career or higher studies is not common amongst girls." This is a tradition that has been going on for generations, especially in the subcontinent – nothing new to discuss here. However, Yayah, recently married, and now living in a village, Pagon, in West Java, a 5-6 hour drive from the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta, is a member of one of the most successful community groups run exclusively by women. This group helps women to try out unique business ideas and make them financially independent. Empowering women is probably not the only agenda amongst the villagers in Pagon. According to a local farmer and researcher, Jajat Ruchjat, there was a time when nobody had to worry about water – to use, to drink and to cook. "But now it's a different issue altogether," he says. Due to climate change, the water level has gone down. Other villages like Pagon have to now worry about food security, besides providing their children with education and a proper home. "Here you find both dry weather and the rainy season as well," smiles Ruchjat, "a perfect platform to learn about climate change!" Around 13 journalists from all over the world flew to Indonesia earlier this month to participate in the IFAD-sponsored training programme conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) and IPS International News Agency. The three-day workshop focused on the impact of climate change in the rural areas, particularly in Indonesia. Hari Priyono, Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, and Ron Hartman, IFAD Country Programme Manager, gave presentations to the journalists, amongst others. The training included a day-visit to Pagon, where journalists interviewed members of a farmers' organisation that was once a part of the IFAD-supported P4K project. According to the IFAD blog, the project, operating for seven years on its own, aims to improve post-harvest processing and provide small-scale farmers with access to capital through a local commercial bank. Journalists speak to jackfruit producers in Pagon village, Indonesia. Photo: IPS/Abigail Lee "Prior to the funding in 1999, my husband was the sole earning member of the family," says 45-year-old Caswati. "Of course it was difficult; the income was not enough to cover the expenses of the family for food, school, clothing and what not." Caswati is one of the members of the community group in Pagon, which has been running successfully for the last 7 years. Initially the group was a mix of both men and women, but it eventually gave away to becoming a woman only group. In the beginning, each member of the group was given a loan of 1,00,000 INR. The women in the group began to use the resources available in the village to start their project. One of their major projects included making snacks out of jackfruits, a fruit readily available in the village. Not only do the women grow, make and sell jackfruit chips, sweet potato snacks and pickles, they also make baskets, fences and artificial shades, as a part of their community group project. "Our group has evolved and expanded in the last many years," explains Ibnu, yet another member. "Earlier, each of us would get a loan of 1,00,000 INR, but now we get 3,00,000 INR, and we are able to pay back the loan on time." Making and selling snacks from jackfruit for shops in Jakarta, has actually increased their income by 40 percent, particularly in Pagon. The women, in the community group, who have barely had an elementary level schooling, would rather focus more on skill development and marketing training sessions. "Every month, local government bodies provide us with capacity building training sessions," adds Caswati. "However, we would like to learn how to market our products better and get into the competitive market scene in the country." The community group, consisting of women, both young and old, has practically evolved into a formal micro enterprise. "There are other groups in the villages, who are trying to do the same as we are," says Ibnu. "Not all of them, however, are successful, and some are unable to pay back their bank loans. We help them and lend them funds if they need to repay the banks." Hence, one group borrows from the other to pay back loan instalments to commercial banks. This project, has not only given these women and their families the opportunity to earn a little extra and feed their families, they also have lands in their names, are decision makers and also are free to invest their earnings in other businesses, thus expanding their enterprises. "The banks trust us, which is why they give us the loan," adds Ibnu. "I am very proud of this trust and feel confident that we can give our children a better life." Going back to the just-married young woman, Yayah, she worked in Jakarta for five years, until she had to get married  and settle down with her farmer husband in Pagon – a tradition that is probably not so easy to change, let alone break away from. However, the community group in Pagon, probably gives her the same freedom that she had experienced when she worked in the very busy metropolitan capital city of Jakarta – freedom to decide for herself, to be financially independent and of course to be empowered. The writer is Editor, Star Campus, The Daily Star.