A Student Organization Building Program (PPKO) team from Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus) took a strategic step to reinforce the local economy and improve the independence of coffee farmers within Gonoharjo Village, Limbangan Sub-district, Kendal Regency, Central Java. This strategic step was embodied in a launching event entitled ‘Gon’s Coffee Product and Website Launching,’ which was held in the community hall in Gonoharjo Village.

The launching event aimed to introduce various innovative products developed by local farmers, as well as to demonstrate a digital platform to bridge business owners with consumers. The team orchestrating this entire program consisted of members of the Student Council Representatives of the Economics and Business Faculty at Udinus.

On that occasion, Dr. Retno Indah Hernawati, S.E., M.Si., the Dean of the Economics and Business Faculty, gave an opening speech as a representative from the campus. The event was also attended by Nur Anis, S.Sos., a representative from the Industry and Employment Service of Kendal Regency, and Jumaiyah, S.E., a representative from the Trade, Cooperation, and SME Service of Kendal Regency. Other representatives also made an appearance to discuss learning materials.

Farlin Nabila Mawarni, the leader of the PPKO team, stated that the products introduced at the event included a soap made of coffee stems, coffee diffusers, powdered coffee, and Cascara Tea, which is a tea made of coffee pulps produced by farmers of Gonoharjo. These products are the sustainable results to push the creativity of local farmers, which was a part of Gon’s Coffee, to the next level.

“We took this step to ensure that the local farmers do not only rely on sales of raw materials. This is because processing the said raw materials is necessary to increase the value of the products. Thus, the farmers can be more economically independent,” Farlin uttered.

The Launching of Gon’s Coffee Official Website

At the event, attended by 47 people, the official website of Gon’s Coffee was also launched. Suhita Whini Setyahuni, S.E., M.Ak., Ak., the Supervisor of the PPKO Team., said that the website would be used as a marketing strategy to garner a wide audience in the digital era.

“This website is designed to display information about products to customers, as well as to order the said products and directly interact with Gon’s Coffee. Hopefully, it can create a professional and modern impression, allowing a wider audience to look at Gon’s Coffee,” Suhita said.

During her speech, Suhita also emphasized that the event aimed to support local coffee farmers in improving the life quality and economic independence through entrepreneurship. To do this, the PPKO team empowered the farmers by providing them knowledge and skills necessary to develop an independent business.

“We aim to help the local farmers to create an economically-independent village, with the ability to face the market dynamics and come up with innovations. We also advise for this knowledge to be preserved for the next generation so they can keep up with technological advancements,” she added.

As stated by Suytino, the Chief of Gonoharjo Village, this launching event was received enthusiastically by the locals of Gonoharjo. The entire program is expected to inspire other professions in Gonoharjo Village to keep up with technological advancements.

"As a representative of the locals, I hereby express my gratitude to Udinus and other partners for conducting the PPKO program in our village. We hope for the program to inspire other villages to partake in the same program,” Suyitno concluded. (Humas Udinus/Alex. Foto: DPM FEB Udinus)