Kaluppini Village, Enrekang Regency became the location for a comparative study that brought together the Marena, Orong, and Tangsa Customary Law Communities (MHA) with the Kaluppini Indigenous Community to share knowledge and community-based management practices on December 24, 2024. This activity was initiated by Article 33 Indonesia, which acted as an intermediary institution to channel funds for the TERRA-CF 2024 project from the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH). With 27 participants in attendance, including customary leaders, indigenous youth, indigenous women, and stakeholders from various institutions, this activity marked a collective effort to strengthen the capacity and management of community-based businesses.
The selection of Kaluppini as a comparative study location was made because this community has succeeded in processing local commodities, sugar palm, into value-added ant sugar products. This business is managed by Mabarakka Kaluppini Joint Business Group (KUBE). which was founded in May 2023. With this success, Kaluppini has become an inspiring example in utilizing local potential sustainably.
The involvement of indigenous women in the production process of palm sugar as the main managers is also one of the main attractions in this activity. In addition to being a forum for capacity building, this activity also shows how indigenous traditions can adapt to the needs of the modern market without losing their essence.
Through this activity, participants are invited to learn from the challenges and opportunities faced by KUBE Mabarakka Kaluppini, including in the management of raw materials, marketing, and increasing the capacity of human resources that are closely related to the palm sugar production process.
The comparative study activity was divided into three main sessions, starting with remarks from Article 33 Indonesia, the Head of KMA Kaluppini Customary Law, and the Head of KPH Mata Allo. These remarks emphasized the importance of collaboration between indigenous communities in overcoming challenges such as the criminalization of indigenous peoples and the need for regeneration of traditional knowledge.
Then the activity continued with the presentation of material regarding the journey of KUBE Mabarakka Kaluppini in processing palm sugar into palm sugar. In this session, a demonstration of palm sugar production was also carried out which could be followed by participants. It is hoped that this demonstration can provide practical insight for participants, including manual production techniques and the challenges faced. The thing that needs to be underlined in this case is that KMA Kaluppini has great potential in palm sugar processing, with market demand that continues to increase to Makassar City. However, they face challenges in the form of minimal modern production facilities, limited tapping skills, and the quality of raw materials affected by the weather, which requires increased capacity and infrastructure support. It is hoped that important experiences such as strategies in overcoming obstacles such as minimal modern production equipment and contamination of raw materials will also be important learning for participants.
This activity was closed with a discussion session on various topics that had been discussed previously, including the regeneration of traditional knowledge, access to capital, and strategies for maintaining business sustainability.
As a result of this comparative study activity, it was agreed eight follow-up plan aimed at strengthening community-based business management in the future. Several main steps include the establishment of ant sugar business units in MHA Orong, surveying production equipment in preparation for a pilot project, preparing ant sugar governance documents, and strengthening cross-community networks between Kaluppini and MHA assisted by Article 33 Indonesia (MHA Marena, Orong, and Tangsa).
Looking at the enthusiasm of the participants, this comparative study emphasizes the importance of networking and collaboration to improve the welfare of indigenous peoples. By utilizing the experience of KMA Kaluppini as inspiration, MHA Marena, Orong, and Tangsa are expected to be able to adapt similar strategies in their respective areas. In addition, the most important part is that the sustainability of this initiative requires support from various parties, including the government and supporting institutions, to ensure the creation of a better resource management system.
This activity reflects the commitment of Article 33 Indonesia together with all parties involved to empower indigenous communities through sustainable management of local potential, while strengthening their traditions and cultural identity in facing the challenges of modernization.
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