A New Footing to Jump Higher during the Pandemic

Name: A New Footing to Jump Higher during the Pandemic
Uploaded: 2020-11-11T04:29:24Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: Small businesses often become the main pillars of the economy during a crisis, as is now happening due to the pandemic. In a difficult situation, the slightest opportunity can become a platform to jump higher.

Small businesses often become the main pillars of the economy during a crisis, as is now happening due to the pandemic. In a difficult situation, the slightest opportunity can become a platform to jump higher.

REGINA RUKMORINI/HARIS FIRDAUS

· 6 minutes read

As a band member, Haries Saprila (36) never thought that one day he would become a herbalist. He used to look cool as a bass player and was popular in the music community in Magelang, Central Java, and its surroundings with the Esklamusic Band. Now, his fingers are speckled yellow because every day he mixes herbs.

"At first, I felt at ease, thinking the pandemic would only last for a month. But, after many cancellations of performances, I started to panic,” said Haries, a resident of Banjarnegoro village, Mertoyudan, Magelang regency on Monday (26/10/2020).

In May, about two months after the first Covid-19 cases were announced in Indonesia in early March, he started thinking of how to find other income. Finally, he had an idea to make ready-to-drink herbs. The idea came up because every day he drinks herbs to maintain his stamina.

Also read: Taking Care of Others During the Pandemic

Haries began to learn about the ingredients and techniques of processing herbal medicine. He was not ashamed to learn from herb sellers and neighbors. After trying several times, he was finally able to make it.

The ready-to-drink herbal concoction, which is branded Jamu Migunani, is packaged in 250 milliliter and 500 ml plastic bottles. Haries uses social media for promotion. "At that time, I promoted my herbs to all contact numbers on my cell phone," he said.

At first, I felt at ease, thinking the pandemic would only last for a month. But, after many cancellations of performances, I started to panic

The business, set up with capital of Rp 1 million, can now produce four variants of bottled herbal medicine, namely beras kencur, Javanese tamarind, paitan and papaya leaves. His customer base expanded after he cooperated with four resellers, two of whom are in charge of the market in Yogyakarta. He is now developing herbs in powder form.

The lesson of the pandemic, for Haries, is to force him to move from his comfort zone as a band player. The key is being creative and innovative.

Fitnasih (29), a resident of Karangrejo village, Borobudur district, Magelang, also runs a small business. For years, she had comfortably worked as a tour guide at Borobudur Temple, but everything changed when the temple complex was closed due to the pandemic. "In fact, in April and May, her tour packages had been fully booked. I felt stressed," Fitnasih said.

Also read: Borobudur Blooming in the Autumn

After taking part in online entrepreneurship training, she set up a ready-to-brew spice beverage business. She combines slices of ginger, turmeric, cardamom, lemongrass and some fresh herbs, then packs it in a small plastic bag. The spice business is growing. Between March and May, 16,000 packs were sold.

Fitnasih\'s products comprise spice drinks such as wedang uwuh and wedang secang. She sells them for Rp 30,000 per 10 packs. Lately, sales have declined. As a strategy, the products use premium packaging and are sold at souvenir shops.

When the temple complex reopened, the number of tourists began to increase. However, she maintained her spice business. "I sell the premium packaged spice drinks to the tourists I guide," she said.

Fight

Although it has created new opportunities for many people, the pandemic has in general hit many micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). They must fight to survive. The owner of the Borobudur Mushroom business, Puput Setyoko (28), for example, had to stop the production of processed mushroom food between March and June, this year.

Luckily, Puput\'s income was supported by the rise in the demand for ready-to-harvest mushroom growing media (baglog) which was in high demand because many people stayed at home during the pandemic and wanted to learn mushroom cultivation.

"Many who come here are migrant workers, employees who work at home and the victims of layoffs," he said.

Also read: New Awareness of Sharing Burdens

Puput is one of the MSME owners who obtained the KUR subsidized microcredit from Bank Jateng. She used the Rp 100 million credit to develop a business, including building a kumbung (mushroom seedling cultivation room), building a pavilion to receive visitors and repairing mushroom sterilization machines.

During the pandemic, she was lucky because Bank Jateng provided a loan payment relaxation program. Her monthly installments have been reduced to Rp 500,000 since July from Rp 2 million previously. The loan relief is expected to last until early next year.

Rini Sulistyowati (38), a dim sum trader in Magelang, said that under normal conditions, she sold up to 100 servings per day. On weekends, her income could reach between Rp 1.5 million to Rp 2 million. "The Covid-19 pandemic changed everything. Public activities were stopped, including Car Free Day. My sales fell 85 percent," she said.

The sales method was then changed to a delivery system. In addition, she also joined the online food delivery services provided by app-based motorcycle taxi providers. Her sales gradually increased. "Now, sales have reached 40 percent of those in normal times," said Rini.

Being one of the MSMEs assisted by Bank Jateng, Rini hoped to get more facilities. So far, the loans have been prioritized for business owners classified as producers, whereas he is a distributor. "In fact, reseller friends also need attention," she said.

The head of microcredit at Bank Jateng, Adhi Soebroto, said the bank had implemented the loan payment relaxation program as stipulated in Financial Services Authority (OJK) Regulation No. 11/2020 to help small businesses. Until the end of October, Bank Jateng had restructured loans worth Rp 4.9 trillion given to 16,197 debtors. The largest business sectors that received the loans were wholesalers and retailers, which accounted for 31 percent.