Campus Community Empowerment Programme Strengthens Competitiveness of Pariangan Coffee Batik

Universitas PGRI Sumatera Barat, through its Community Empowerment and Partnership Programme (PKM), is strengthening the business competitiveness of Batik Kopi Pariangan in Nagari Pariangan, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra. The PKM programme is funded by the Directorate of Research and Community Service, Directorate General of Research and Development, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek). The programme, running from June to August 2026, is directed at strengthening community business capacity, increasing product added value, and building marketing strategies that are more adaptive to digital economic developments. Monitoring and mentoring activities will continue until December 2026. Batik Kopi Pariangan is a creative economy potential that is distinctive because it utilises coffee as part of the batik product’s process and identity. This uniqueness is an important asset to be developed into a superior product that not only has artistic and cultural value but also economic competitiveness. In a statement received today, the Head of the PKM Implementing Team from Universitas PGRI Sumatera Barat, Dr Yendra, said the programme is designed to answer partners’ needs in facing an increasingly competitive market. “This programme is not only oriented towards product improvement, but also how the community possesses skills, business management systems, brand identity, and promotional strategies capable of supporting business sustainability,” said Yendra. According to him, community empowerment is part of efforts to increase economic independence through strengthening knowledge and skills. The community is encouraged to develop innovation, read market opportunities, improve product quality, and ultimately increase income. The PKM programme carries four main activities. First, the development of derivative batik product diversification, aimed at expanding product types and variations so that Batik Kopi Pariangan does not solely rely on main batik products. Second, strengthening the digital data management system, encouraging partners to have more organised business information management to support production, recording, documentation, and business development. Third, strengthening branding identity and brand image, translating the local uniqueness of Batik Kopi Pariangan into a strong, easily recognisable brand identity. Fourth, developing a promotional structure through digital media to adapt to changing consumer behaviour and reach a wider market. The programme implementation involves cross-disciplinary collaboration at Universitas PGRI Sumatera Barat. The team consists of Dr Yendra as chair, with Dr Zulfaneti and Ami Anggraini Samudra as members, alongside students Jasril, Nisrina Saliha, and Muhammad Ulul Albab. The collaboration involves the Informatics Education and Data Science study programmes from the Faculty of Science and Technology, the English Language Education study programme from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Humanities Studies postgraduate programme. Yendra explained that the programme aligns with the national development agenda, particularly Asta Cita, by enhancing community understanding and skills to build quality, independent businesses. The empowerment is also directed at creating innovative human resources capable of utilising various business opportunities. “The hope is that the community will not only be programme beneficiaries but also able to continue and develop innovations independently after the programme ends,” he asserted. Besides supporting Asta Cita, this programme also contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially through increasing community capacity, strengthening economic independence, creating business opportunities, and increasing income. This empowerment programme is expected to be a strategic step in developing Batik Kopi Pariangan as a local potential-based creative economy product. The strengthening of products, digital management, branding, and promotion is expected to open wider market access while strengthening the position of Batik Kopi Pariangan as part of the creative economy identity of Nagari Pariangan and Tanah Datar Regency.