Two Decades of Struggle: Rosidah Expands Brown Sugar Business with BRI's KUR

For Rosidah, 50, brown sugar is not just a commodity, but a life journey. Since 2006, she has been developing a traditional Madurese brown sugar business, utilising sap from the siwalan or lontar palm trees that grow abundantly in Sumenep.

The early days of her venture were far from smooth. She faced numerous limitations, from very traditional production equipment to a lack of capital. However, her determination never wavered. ‘Alhamdulillah, over time, the quality of my brown sugar began to attract consumers. Orders started coming in,’ she said, noting that her customer network gradually expanded to various regions.

A significant leap in the scale of her business occurred in 2016. Realising that the surging market demand could not be met without a substantial injection of working capital, Rosidah decided to apply for a People’s Business Credit (KUR) at BRI’s Pragaan Unit. ‘I had been a BRI customer for a long time, but it was only in 2016 that I dared to apply for a KUR loan. The process was fast and the BRI team was very responsive. I chose KUR because, besides the low interest, it requires no collateral. So it is suitable for a small business like mine,’ she explained.

This step proved to be a vital stimulus for her business. The fresh funds from the bank were immediately allocated to strengthen the availability of raw materials in her kitchen. The first three years after becoming a KUR BRI customer went very smoothly, with her business turnover accelerating. After repaying her first loan with a clean commitment record, Rosidah again trusted BRI for her business development, applying for a second loan with a higher nominal value of IDR 50 million.