Sustainable Community Empowerment Efforts Through the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises of Eceng Gondok

Abstract

The issue of community empowerment is the concern of the local government. Community empowerment is carried out to create a democratic, prosperous, and advanced society. One of the patterns of empowerment efforts is by carrying out sustainable community empowerment by developing small and medium-sized community businesses that utilize Eceng Gondok. Eceng Gondok is an aquatic plant that grows wild and has the potential to damage the ecosystem. This article aims to describe sustainable community empowerment by developing small and medium-sized community businesses that utilize Eceng Gondok in Amuntai Tengah District. The articles’ preparation was based on community service results, which was carried out in December 2019 and January 2020. In increasing the discussion, literature studies were carried out from various sources of literature and journals. The discussion results describe the Eceng Gondok UMKM in Amuntai Tengah District as a pioneer UMKM in Hulu Sungai Utara Regency. In improving the competence of UMKM players, Hulu Sungai Utara Regency’s local government conducts training activities for making innovative Eceng Gondok products. Training is carried out by increasing cooperation with related agencies, Department of Industry, Office of Agriculture, Bappeda and Sekda Hulu Sungai Utara district. Based on routine training activities carried out by the Local Government of Hulu Sungai Utara Regency, the community has increased income due to the sale of Eceng Gondok handicraft products.