The Empowerment of Women Migrant Family in Coconut Oil Production and Partnership Markets (A Study in Sukowilangun, Kalipare District, Malang Regency)

Abstract

Cooking oil is one of household primary needs in Indonesia. In 2020 during the pandemic Covid-19, the oil consumption was relatively stable both for domestic needs and export. The production of crude palm oil (CPO) in 2022 reached 46,888 million tons, decreasing 0.31% compared to 2020 that was 47,034 million tons. The research aims to analyze women migrant families' responses to coconut oil processing and marketing innovations. Specifically, the present research aims at (1) describing the potential of women migrant families to process coconut to coconut oil, (2) analyzing the potential of coconut and firewood in Sukowilangun Village, (3) analyzing the marketing conditions of coconut oil in the Sukowilangun Village, and (4) analyzing women's response to coconut oil processing. This research used a qualitative approach with an action research design. The research procedures were: (1) rapid assessment in the village to see the potential of coconut and firewood, (2) studying secondary data sourced from the Village Office, (3) conducting in-depth interviews with groups of women migrant families, (4) studying women migrant family response to coconut oil processing, and (5) conducting a preliminary study of coconut oil marketing in Sukowilangun and Kalipare areas. The results showed that women from migrant families were very responsive to processing and marketing coconut oil. It was caused by the prolonged scarcity of cooking oil and the abundant number of coconut commodities scattered in the yard in Sukowilangun Village. Therefore, they were able to sell a fresh product at a relatively cheap price. Moreover, the oil scarcity in the market was resolved by partnering the market with coconut oil marketers. People expect that the oil-making process and the marketing of coconut oil increase the economy of migrant families during the pandemic covid era.