Development Strategy of Women's Non-farm Entrepreneurs Group (Small Household and Handicraft Industries) in North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi

Abstract

This study examined the development strategy of women's non-farm entrepreneurs (small home industries and handicrafts) in North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 58 members of the Women Farmers Group as a representation of 20 percent of all members of the women's farmer group in the North Luwu Regency. Primary data were collected through scheduled interviews and presented using percentages and SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis with IFAS and EFAS analysis, structured questionnaires to obtain data on their socioeconomic profile, problem opportunities, and needs related to non-farm development. The results showed that North Luwu Regency is a promising location for the development of non-farm businesses, as evidenced by the potential commodity yields in this region. However, there are some barriers to institutionalizing the empowerment of women farmer groups. As a result of this study's analysis, several development strategies such as (1) capacity building of human resources in agricultural product management (2) development of government and stakeholder policies for farming community empowerment (3) increasing community group accessibility and cooperation with financial institutions (4) developing local market areas and outside the local area (5) strengthening farmer institutions as economic business units (6) Strengthening Community Capacity for Non-Farm Business Development Through Group Empowerment Activities (7) Developing Agricultural Product Processing Industries. (8) Building partnerships with financial institutions to gain access to capital (9) Developing Non-Farm Businesses as profitable and attractive businesses (10) Increasing accessibility and utilization of production technology and information technology in Non-Farm enterprises management (11) Increased collaboration/cooperation among non-farm business groups (Production – Marketing) (12) human resource capacity development strategy and farmer institutional strengthening in non-farm business development efforts. (13) establishing partnerships between economic institutions and farmers' institutions for the development of non-farm businesses beginning in production and marketing (14) Development of a greater quantity and higher quality of superior products for agricultural processing.