UNS — As an effort to develop Mojopuro Industrial Center, participants of the Student Community Service Program (KKN) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) held a workshop on Tempe Mlanding (Leucaena leucocephala). The event was initiated by Team 84 KKN UNS in Mojopuro Village, Wonogiri. The Family Empowerment and Welfare (PKK) members of Nglorong and Gayam hamlet became the participants in the workshop held in Mojopuro Village Hall on Thursday (14/1/2021).
The Village Chief of Mojopuro, Kasno, stated that people in Nglorong and Gayam hamlet are semi-modern communities because their main occupation is farming, opening a small business, and as migrant workers to cities. The majority of the population in the village is in their productive age. Children who graduated from Junior High School (SMP) prefer to continue their studies in Vocational High School (SMK) instead of Senior High School (SMA). They want to get a job as soon as they graduated from school or open a small business. Therefore, they do not need to study at the university. This condition provides a strong background for Team 84 KKN UNS to organize the workshop.
Tempe Mlanding development faces inevitable challenges in its journey. The lack of connection between the community in adjusting to the product’s market and shelf life poses the most significant challenge in the marketing and packaging process.
“Moreover, the price, mbak (honorific for older sister/older woman). It is considered pricey. One tempe can be two thousand (rupiah). While the usual tempe (tempe daun), we can get two for one thousand (rupiah). There is a high gap,” Giyatmi, as local people complained.
The complaint encouraged Team 84 KKN UNS to contribute and provide a solution in the workshop. Branding, digital marketing, and vacuum packaging training are taught in the workshop. The tempe product they called “Kripik Wanantara” has an excellent potential to be developed, proved by the finding from the community and KKN members on the added value of their products.
“The more lompe (over fermentation process and moist), the better is its taste. It does not remove the original taste of mlanding. If it is overdried, the flavor will be gone. It is possible to sell it for 20 thousand (rupiah) per pack in the city,” the Village Chief of Mojopuro, Kasno, stated.
At the end of the session, the Village Chief reminded the participants to try the innovation they learned from the workshop in their business. With the workshop, the local community is also expected to innovate with product processed from Tempe Mlanding as their village icon and in turn, improve local community economic condition. Humas UNS
Reporter: Rangga Pangestu Adji
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
