ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the household bamboo handicraft industry in rural areas. A comprehensive study was conducted to identify impacts, living strategies, and economic recovery;the findings will be used as a basis to recommend supporting policy to create a more resilient bamboo handicraft business. This study applied phenomenological approach to interpret the social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2021, 30 bamboo craftsmen in Semin Village, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta Special Province were interviewed. Results show that 96.7% of bamboo craftsmen experienced a decrease in profit, with 46.6% reporting no order for a long period. The profit earned by craftsmen decreased by 76.50%. Bamboo craftsmen adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by minimizing capital expenses, creating innovations marketing in options (i.e., direct sales, selling online) and focusing on alternative income sources (farming, hunting and gathering, selling food, and becoming laborers) to survive. As the spread of the virus was controlled, leading to the relaxation of restrictions on economic activities, the bamboo industry in Semin has entered an economic recovery phase. Currently, the average profit has reached 66.18%, compared to the profit earned in normal pre-pandemic situation. We believe the government should facilitate craftsmen to build their capacity in e-commerce, export mechanism, market network creation, tool acquisition, and English proficiency. This would enhance the bamboo handicraft industry in Semin to be more resilient facing future challenges. © 2022, Hasanuddin University. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The agricultural sector is one of the aspects that was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aims to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on agroforestry farmers' livelihoods in rural areas. It was carried out in Tasikmalaya Regency, East Priangan, where mixed garden agroforestry farming supports part of the economic life of the community. The data used were collected between August and September 2021 by interviewing 33 farmer households. A coding and descriptive analysis were carried out to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on agroforestry farmers and their strategies. Subsequently, the cost-income, revenue cost ratio, and labor productivity analyses were used to assess the feasibility of agroforestry farming before and during the pandemic. The results showed that government policies related to handling the pandemic in form of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) and the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) significantly affected the lives of farmers. These include decreased demand and commodity selling prices, difficulties in marketing agroforestry products, and a decrease in farmers' incomes by 38.45%. The agroforestry business has become less viable due to a reduction in farm productivity from R/C 1.1 before the pandemic to 0.85 during the pandemic, while farmer labor productivity decreased from US$ 3.00 to US$ 2.10. The farmers used direct cash assistance from the government and processed agroforestry products for sale and consumption as a survival strategy during the pandemic. Meanwhile,the government can help agroforestry farmers by increasing road access to rural areas, providing fertilizer and superior seeds, and also optimizing the role of livestock farmer groups.
ABSTRACT
Hujungtiwu village has several attractive features such as agricultural and agroforestry commodities, mountainous scenery with Gunung Sawal as the background, and location in high altitude with cool climate and cold water. This potential plus the fact that many youth were laid off due to COVID-19 pandemic awake villagers to develop a new tourist village with agro tourism concept. Through focus group discussion, field observation, and field survey in other tourist destinations in Gunung Sawal Region to see the trend of tourism in this region, data were collected. The data then descriptively analyzed to map the detail potentials, opportunities, and challenges, in order to propose strategies to start the development of a tourist village. The role of village government is important in allocating village funds for this project, such as creating a village owned enterprise (BUMDES), capacity development of tourism activist actors, starting a small-scale business i.e. café that is currently experiencing a positive trend in Gunung Sawal Region. Too massive development will pose a high risk, given that village funds are also needed for purposes other than developing tourist destinations, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The essence of the initial development of this tourist spot is to introduce new tourist sites to the wider community and introduce rural communities to the management of a tourist destination, while waiting for the process of developing new entrepreneurial capacities. If the community response is good, business expansion that emphasizes more on the core business of agro tourism can be started little by little.