Sarwani, stand with cassava crackers

Sarwani, stand with cassava crackers

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Rain has not let up at Tempo menyambangi residence Sarwani, on Wednesday last week. Two were children, women 48 years old is busy moving wet cassava crackers that are dried to the shade. Bale-bale in the back of the house is full. They compete with the fast rain downpours mengguyur inland areas of Aceh Besar that.

Cassava is the main raw material of crackers Sarwani be produced since the 1980s. "If the rain continues, the production will fail, cassava crackers must be wet," said Sarwani.

He is getting raw materials from the residents around. A 50 kilogram sack size dibelinya worth Rp 85 ribu. Cassava crackers produced cassava based raw materials, flour, and salt. Initial production, peeled parsnip. Once washed, and then mashed with the engine rasp. After that, the dough is mixed with flour and salt.

Then the mixture is wrapped with plastic thigh was wrapped up like adults lontong, and steamed until cooked. After cooking, the cushiony material is to be sliced thin plate-shaped. "Then dried up, dry, and that kerupuknya. Before eaten, fried first," explains Sarwani.

Cot Suwe in the Village, Kemukimam Lam Pakuk, Kuta Cot Glie District, Aceh Besar, he is not the only people who produce cassava crackers. But Sarwani recognized as a pioneer of this business. Although born in the village, her parents are immigrants from East Java. They were farmers.

There are no special skills and knowledge obtained by previous Sarwani. Everything started from the try-try. Production at the beginning of the business in the 1980s is also small. "Formerly, one pound of crackers only Rp 500," he said. He continues to produce, despite the conflict in Aceh heat 1998-2004.

Slowly, activity followed his brothers in the village. Production of cassava crackers increasingly crowded. Everything is done manually. Engine rasp of a new premium fuel used in 1997, when the flow of electricity entering the village.

Post-tsunami in late 2004, production was abundant. There are people who come to book a place. "Perhaps in Banda Aceh did not have people who make crackers again due to the disaster, so many that book to me," said Sarwani.

Production Sarwani crackers labeled "cassava crackers complicated." One-half kilogram of plastic packaging dipatok at Rp 5,000. In a day he could produce 10-15 kilograms in the hot weather. "If the rain and overcast, disrupted production, as cassava crackers not dry," he said.

Cassava crackers made Sarwani restless easily can be found in the markets and Seulimum Lambaro, Aceh Besar. From there, ubinya chips to Banda Aceh, which is only 3 kilometers from the Lambaro. Automatic, crackers ubinya only in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar.

Capital is insufficient to make out the bulk of production and marketing is very limited. He did not want to borrow capital from banks. Interest loan to make a big Sarwani not dare take the risk. "Scared can not restore it later," he said.

However, earlier this year approached goddess Fortuna. Loan capital comes from Qatar Charity Indonesia Aceh branch. Institutions that choose Sarwani as one of four beneficiaries of economic empowerment program in 2008 for the project of making crackers. The amount is small. Groups only get Rp 5 million. Divided by 10 people, Sarwani kebagian Rp 500 ribu. Funds must be returned in time a year, without interest.

But lumayanlah. Since an additional capital of Qatar Charity, Sarwani able to increase its daily production volume. Meanwhile, prior to receiving assistance Sarwani only able to process 40 kg of cassava, this time he can spend 60 kg of cassava per day.

With omzet like that, he confessed only meraup net profit of Rp 2-3 million per month. Some ditabung money and other consumables for daily needs. "With cassava crackers, our life. We want this business great," he said.
source:
www.kompas.com