Children of Drajat village in Paciran district, Lamongan regency, East Java, buy snacks from kiosks. In addition to stands that sell Drajat’s main products, the village fund from the central government has helped build 15 kiosks selling various products in the Sunan Drajat cemetery complex in Alun-alun Drajat, as well as kiosks for the payment of electricity bills, water bills and employees’ salaries. These stalls earn between Rp 24 million (US$1,776) and Rp 30 million a month. The souvenirs and food on sale are all produced by residents of the village.
Prior to 2000, Drajat village was a disadvantaged area in Paciran district, Lamongan regency, East Java. There used to be a saying that Drajat’s people would never prosper if they did not set out and seek their fortune in other places. Nowadays, however, the village is flourishing and its people’s welfare is improving.
Over the past 10 years, the villagers have been striving to attain prosperity. Their spirit blossomed even more after the government declared the village as a standard of growth. It has disbursed village funds annually since 2015.
Opportunities are grasped and creative ideas are gathered from local youths. As a result, innovations emerge that boost the productivity of local economic activities.
On the southern side of Drajat village square now stand 15 Pemaring Mart kiosks managed by the village-owned enterprises (BUMDes). The kiosks are rented out and used to sell food, beverages and souvenirs, or as payment booths for utilities, tax and wages. There is also a playground with rides, such as scooters and electric motorcycles.
Drajat village head Ahmad Nailul Fauzi said on Thursday (12/10) that all efforts were made to improve the people’s welfare. Drajat used to be identified with the religious tourist site of Sunan Drajat’s grave. But the tourism potential alone could not effectively boost local welfare. Fauzi said he wished for real change, especially in the village economy.
Problems were then mapped to help find solutions. Youth and community leaders were gathered to discuss creative ideas to improve the villagers’ welfare. “The Prophet Muhammad taught us that business was the way to prosperity. We wished to instill this idea among the people,” Fauzi said.
Sunan Drajat’s teachings also inspire the village people. Among Sunan Drajat’s teaching was a tenet to always be pemaring (providers) and helpers for people who are suffering: “Paringono mangan marang wong kang kaluwen, paringono teken marang wong kang wuto, paringono paying marang wong kang kudanan, paringono busana marang wong kang wuda (Give food to the hungry, give walking sticks to the blind, give umbrellas to those in rain, give clothing to the unclothed).”
Collecting local products
Their spirit is reflected in the BUMDes called Pemaring. The enterprise seeks breakthrough solutions to improve the local economy.
Before, traders managed the 200 permanent kiosks and 50 temporary kiosks in Sunan Drajat’s graveyard complex. The village office, the BUMDes, and the youth community then agreed to establish new kiosks along the south side of the village square. These 15 kiosks are called Pemaring Mart, each of which is 6 square meters.
The goal of the Pemaring Marts is to accommodate villagers who wish to trade but have no kiosk in the graveyard complex. The BUMDes acts as a collector and helps market locally produced food products. The products are given the Pemaring brand label and are marketed at Pemaring Marts and at the BUMDes kiosk in the graveyard complex.
The Pemaring Marts sell homemade products such as fish crackers, squid crackers, mushroom crackers, corn crackers and spinach crackers. Souvenirs, such as shirts and mugs designed by village youths, are also available. The villagers, who used to make the crackers only for their own consumption, were provided a space to sell them, as well as through consignment.
The local Karang Taruna youth organization also manages a car and motorcycle wash. There is also a village-owned supplier of drinking water. Fauzi said that 118 families in the village owned cars. “Almost 70 percent of the people live off their entrepreneurship activities,” he said.
The village fund has also helped boost the local economy. The village received Rp 300 million (US$22,209) in 2015, Rp 600 million in 2016 and Rp 700 million in 2017.
Pemaring enterprises chief Siswoyo Hadi Prastyo said that villagers began to establish cottage businesses in 2016, and that they are also encouraged to establish souvenir shops for visitors to Sunan Drajat’s grave.
The village economy is supported by 17 small and medium businesses and 22 cottage businesses under the Pemaring management. The squid cracker business run by Mohammad Agus Faroukh’s family is one example. His monthly revenue of around Rp 2 million serves as additional income for his family.
Pemaring’s role as a collector also helps Astuti, 37, to market her crackers. In the past two years, her daily average income has increased from Rp 100,000 to Rp 200,000. She enjoys a net profit of 40 percent.
Pemaring’s one-stop payment service also helps villagers pay their utility bills and taxes, as well as buy cashless cards. Oone-stop payment service officer Risa Ayu Retnowati said that transactions could total Rp 30 million a month from Rp 14 million in electricity bill payments, Rp 6 million in water bill payments and Rp 8 million in village administrators’ salaries.
The children’s rides, such as scooters and electric motorbikes, generate between Rp 80,000 and Rp 160,000 per day. A 10-minute ride costs Rp 3,000 for scooters and Rp 5,000 for electric motorbikes. Other attractions, such as remote-controlled cars, a mini train and a ball pool are also located in the graveyard complex.
Siswoyo said that in addition to Pemaring Mart, the local economy was also boosted by communal film screenings and cultural activities such as torch parades. One kiosk can rake in Rp 300,000 every day.
The 500-meter path between the graveyard complex’s parking area and the village square also boosts local economy. Brochures on the village history and Sunan Drajat’s Mosque are distributed near the village square and on the western side of the graveyard complex to support the tourism initiative.
Grocery stores and accommodation around the graveyard complex are attracting more and more tourists.
“[We] can produce snacks. Those who cannot make them can sell them. We wish to improve the standard of living for Drajat villagers,” Siswoyo said.
