An Ex-Migrant Worker’s Great Perseverance

KOMPAS/KHAERUL ANWAR

Abdul Hadi

Overseas work experience has forged the mentality of Abdul Hadi. As he returned to his village and started his business, he refused to give up in spite of failure. He carried on his pursuit until he found the lucrative business of selling red ginger drinks.

Abdul Hadi comes from Southwest Longserang hamlet, Langko village, Lingsar district, 17 kilometers from Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara. More than half of the 360-hectare village is made up of plantations, farmland and protected forests. The estates in this village are mostly owned by major investors.

Langko villagers generally work as farm workers. Most of them have mistakenly sold their farmland to big investors. Abdul Hadi’s parents were among those who sold their land to the companies and make a living as farm or estate workers with meager income.

Without land, residents in the village that was formerly isolated seem to lack freedom of movement. The situation was worsened by other social issues occurring in Langko village, from the habit of toddy drinking, many early-age marriages, frequent divorces to the high rate of school dropouts.

Hadi, only a junior high school graduate, decided to leave his village in 1995 to improve his life. With a Rp1.5 million loan to pay a worker recruitment firm, he departed for South Korea to become a migrant worker. He also changed his place of work in several electronic and automotive industries.

While in South Korea, Hadi learned discipline, something he had previously lacked understanding of. “Koreans are known for their discipline in regard to time. There’s no reason for late arrival to the office,” Hadi told Kompas on Saturday (6/6/2020).

KOMPAS/KHAERUL ANWAR

The atmosphere of Abdul Hadi\'s working kitchen, in the South Longserang West Hamlet, Langko Village, Lingsar District, West Lombok. West Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday (6/6/2020).

Sadly, what he earned from Korea for six years wasn’t much fruitful as Hadi couldn’t properly manage his income. In 2001, he returned to Indonesia and lived with the parents of his wife, Ika Irawati, 39, in Bogor. To support his family, he worked in an electronic industry in Bekasi. He later moved to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, and served as a security officer for a coal industrial company.

Business ventures

Although his foreign employment didn’t do much improve the livelihood of Hadi and family, he gained a lot of valuable experience. His mentality and discipline were considerably honed. So when he chose to return to his village in Lombok, Hadi had built a strong personality and wouldn’t easily surrender.

The cost of production wasn’t recovered as the snacks were unsold, let alone profit.

Back home, he tried to sell palm fiber and bamboo, but the business failed. Then he peddled cassava chips by motorcycle but Hadi frequently went home empty-handed. “The cost of production wasn’t recovered as the snacks were unsold, let alone profit,” he recalled.

Hadi turned to red ginger cultivation. Two kilograms of ginger seedlings were sent by his younger brother in Banjarmasin. Hadi grew the seedlings in 50 polybags. Three months later, the seedlings proliferated to become 100 polybags. His harvests were left unsold as well. Hadi was disappointed by the vain business.

To avoid wasting the harvest, Hadi processed the red ginger into various kinds of drinks. Once again, the products didn’t sell as they failed to suit buyers’ taste. Hadi and wife kept trying to prepare the right concoction for the red ginger drink.

After repeated trials, only in 2017 did they get a palatable mix. He blended palm sugar with red ginger, citronella, cinnamon and chili. The mixed spices were put into a pan, heated and stirred until they turned into an extract.

To ascertain the market taste, Hadi distributed the red ginger extract to neighbors for tasting. It turns out they liked it. The beverage, called serbat, is actually familiar to residents because this kind of drink used to be consumed by farmers to improve their stamina. Besides, serbat is normally served during a zikir (chanting in praise of Allah) session in Lombok.

Hadi sold this product by touring Lombok Island, visiting government offices in Lombok regency and West Nusa Tenggara province to offer his serbat. He also utilized social media for marketing. His hard work eventually bore fruit. In 2017, the beverage enjoyed market reception and even reached as far as Greater Jakarta, Banjarmasin, Kendari, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Saudi Arabia via intermediary traders.

In one day they can produce 50-100 kilograms of serbat.

Today, Hadi and his wife produce several red ginger drink variants at the price range of Rp17,000-Rp25,000 per pack. In one day they can produce 50-100 kilograms of serbat.

Benefiting residents

In running his business, Hadi employs a number of neighbors for production work. He also buys the palm sugar product of 23 housewives in the village. His sale proceeds are partly set aside for nine disadvantaged residents in his hamlet and for a foster child now 4 years old.

“From the start I cherished the hope that if the serbat business thrived, the income would not only be for me and family but the community should also share its benefits,” said Hadi, who was head of Southwest Lonserang hamlet during 2014-2019. While in office, he realized hamlet asphalt road building and prohibited gambling and liquor.

Hadi is striving to motivate residents to utilize village potentials for the improvement of their livelihood. While ginger can be a lucrative source of business, other crops in the village should also be capable of offering pecuniary advantage through proper processing. So is the conviction of Hadi.

KOMPAS/KHAERUL ANWAR

Abdul Hadi

Abdul Hadi

Born: 2 January 1978 in Lonserang hamlet

Education:

- Langko State Primary School 2, 1991 graduate

- Selagalas State Junior High School 12, Mataram, 1994 graduate

- Package C, 2016 graduate