Small-Scale Business Operators Trained in Modern Cassava Cracker Processing; Sandiaga Uno: Creating Job Opportunities
Yayasan Indonesia Setara (YIS) partnered with Gebrakan Anak Negeri (GAN) to conduct a Culinary Workshop on Processed Melinjo Cassava Crackers—Brownies with Cassava Cracker Toppings & Caramel Cassava Crackers. The activity, held at Saung Ibu Nani, Kampung Parungsari, Sindangsari, Lebak Regency, Banten, was attended by 50 housewives.
YIS Founder Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno stated that YIS, established 11 years ago, focuses on empowering persons with disabilities, young people, and women. One such initiative is this Culinary Workshop on Processed Melinjo Cassava Crackers. He expressed hope that through the training, participants would develop new skills in processing cassava crackers into value-added products that could be produced and sold.
Accordingly, housewives are expected to build economic independence through independently managed small-scale enterprises. “One programme we run continuously is Empowered Women across various regions. We teach culinary skills, such as today’s cassava cracker processing training,” Sandiaga Uno said in a written statement on Friday (27 February).
Beyond baking skills, participants also received digital marketing training. They were taught to create promotional flyer designs using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, whilst building networks among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to encourage sustained sales.
“Subsequently, through a one-month mentoring programme, the women will also receive capital assistance and mentoring. So they can immediately start selling,” he explained.
During the programme’s kick-off session, participants were trained to make brownies with cassava cracker toppings, chocolate-coated cassava crackers, and caramel cassava crackers. These menus were selected because their ingredients are relatively inexpensive, easily obtainable, and can be modified according to seller creativity.
Additionally, participants were introduced to generative AI technology for creating promotional content. They were even challenged to open pre-orders on the same day. From this challenge, 29 orders for brownies with cassava cracker toppings, 55 packets of chocolate-coated cassava crackers, and 30 packets of caramel cassava crackers were recorded.
The selling price for brownies with cassava cracker toppings was set at Rp50,000 to Rp60,000, caramel cassava crackers at Rp35,000, and chocolate-coated cassava crackers at Rp40,000. The total revenue earned by participants on that day reached approximately Rp4,880,000. Following the in-person session, activities continued with intensive mentoring for three weeks. In this phase, participants were facilitated to discuss with trainers, practise creating promotional content, optimise digital marketing strategies, and apply the knowledge they had acquired.
Through this mentoring, participants could ask questions, share experiences, and receive constructive feedback that could be directly applied to developing their businesses.