Empowering community economy through the cassava chips MSME program

Abstract

This study aims to empower the local community and improve its economy through the development of a cassava chips Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) program. The primary motivation of the study lies in the potential of MSMEs to create sustainable economic opportunities, particularly in rural areas with abundant agricultural resources such as cassava. The community service focuses on identifying the problems faced by local cassava chips producers, including limited business knowledge, lack of modern equipment, insufficient capital, and weak marketing strategies. To address these issues, the program was designed to provide comprehensive support through training in production and entrepreneurship, provision of production equipment, assistance in accessing business capital, and development of marketing strategies both through traditional markets and digital platforms. The implementation involved community participation, mentorship, and regular evaluation to ensure progress. As a result, the program showed significant improvements in productivity, product quality, and business management skills among participants. The key findings revealed a substantial increase in monthly sales turnover, expansion in market reach, and the emergence of new business units operated by community members. These outcomes indicate a positive impact on household incomes and job creation in the region. The study concludes that continuous support and collaboration from government and private sectors are essential to sustain and scale up such programs, reinforcing local economic independence and resilience.