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‘Tough’ and ‘trustworthy’, Womenpreneurship gains momentum
“Women are trustworthy and their character is tough. Their challenge is the patriarchal culture of society. They just need easier access to business capital."
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Uchi, the BTPN Syariah community officer for Banyuwangi, East Java, (‘back to camera’) collects installment payments from members, mostly housewives, of the Sentra Rizki GIK micro business group. (JP /Primastuti Handayani)
For many Indonesians, a meal is not complete without kerupuk (crackers) on the table.
With that in mind, Erliana – a housewife in Graha Indah Klatak housing complex in Banyuwangi regency, East Java – began to fry fish crackers to help make ends meet.
Her husband was a contract cook at one of the regency administration agencies. Erliana recalled how her husband had been trying to submit the administrative paperwork so he could become a full-time civil servant. But even after about 20 years, luck remained against him.
In 2017, she was encouraged by one of her neighbors to join a homemaker’s group in the neighborhood called Sentra Rizki GIK. The women entrepreneurs that belonged to it could borrow from BTPN Syariah bank without posting collateral.
Erliana borrowed Rp 5 million (US$357) in 2017 and began to produce her own fish and shrimp crackers. She learned from her parents, who had once owned a similar business.
With the Rp 5 million, she bought equipment for production. She also hired two employees, one of whom was her husband, to help her dry the crackers in the sun and fry them. In a day, the group of three could produce 20 kilograms of crackers. They were sold to nearby food stalls and markets.
Joining the Sentra community center was a blessing for Erliana. She attended the biweekly meetings, learned basic bookkeeping and repaid her loans.
