Project Based Learning (PjBL) group 5

AL FATIH AS A PIONEER OF SMALL MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) TRADITIONAL HEALTHY FOOD PROCESSING

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are vital elements of a country’s economic development. SMEs have a substantial role in obtaining the gross profit and supply of jobs. In Indonesia, the statistics show that SMEs contribute 60% of gross profit and accommodate 97% of the workforce. However, The Indonesian export contribution is only 15.65% in 2021 Q3. This data shows our exports are still low when compared with our neighboring countries, such as Singapore (41%), Thailand (29%), and China (60%). In addition, Covid 19 has dramatically affected many SMEs. 

Facing difficulties due to pandemics, SMEs have to adapt to external changes through innovation. This is crucial for sustaining their business including preserving culture, taking advantage of the regional potential, driving forces for healthy living campaigns, and much more. In this case, the government’s role is also needed to help the short-term finance and help the export process of SMEs products.

One of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that grow significantly because of local government policy on export is Al-Fatih. This SME has transformed some local food into modern instant food without reducing the traditional taste. One of their popular products is “Bubur Ganyong Instan” or instant traditional canna porridge. 

Bubur Ganyong Instan, The instant version of Traditional canna Porridge, is one of some products innovation created by one of Cilacap’s SME namely Al-Fatih. 

Coinciding with the pandemic, Al Fatih was founded in Cilacap, Central Java. It was started from a household business which is a unit of production, packaging and housing. The existence of Al-Fatih has some missions in preserving local or traditional food, maximizing the regional potential, and increasing Indonesian export. 

As a Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), Al Fatih is running their business by creating some various products engaged in healthy traditional instant food such as canna and Irut porridge and beverages including honey and tea. However, some popular products which used to be exported are canna and irut porridge. The sales have reached texas,taiwan, and many more because of the local government's help in promoting local products.

The strengths of Ganyong Bubur Instan products are good for lung and diet, have a kind of long shelf life, unique, easy order and delivery. Yet, the drying process is still traditional so it is highly dependent on the climate.

The production process is quite simple, but it requires patience and thoroughness. Basically, there are three main processes of making Bubur Ganyong Instan or canna instant porridge. Those are dough making, filtering, and drying processes. The main composition is Ganyong, and ant sugar with a dose that adjusts to taste and without added sugar. The first process is to make sago from grated or mashed Ganyong, then add water and squeeze it. The juice was deposited for about one night. The precipitate is what will be used for the next process. Ganyong porridge does not use preservatives but uses a drying system under direct sunlight. It can also use an oven. Drying using an oven will be more effective because it can reach the desired level of dryness. A good and correct drying system will produce a slurry powder, so it does not require preservatives. 

The packaging process is still manual. The porridge is packaged in 2 steps, first, the inner packaging uses plastic and the outer packaging uses cardboard paper. For each packaging box filled with two pcs and sold at IDR 25.000 per pack. 

Al-Fatih sells both offline and online in order to bring their business to greater heights. Online sales are through marketplace such as Shopee and Tokopedia, while offline sales are own paid sales that offer their products around Banyumas, Cilacap, and Bumiayu areas. The sales system is done by waiting for orders and the payment system will be carried out depending on the box. In addition, sales are also made through distributors, and also through trust, Al-Fatih can sell their products up to Texas. In the future Al-Fatih will expand the exports without going through guarantees, by pursuing to get the halal label from MUI.