The empowerment of coconut farmers through the processing of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO)

Abstract

The community service program by the empowerment of coconut farmers model in Kabaena Island is motivated by a sense of concern that many coconut farmer who have difficulty in processing their coconut fruit because the price of copra is very cheap which causes losses to farmers. The aim of the program was to form a partnership of coconut farmers with the cooperative to process the coconut into Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), so that the farmers get more favorable price from selling their coconut fruit. The program was held on January to April 2019 in Kabaena Island which is consisted of six sub-districts namely Kabaena, South Kabaena, West Kabaena, North Kabaena, Central Kabaena, and East Kabaena district. The method used consisted of several phases namely; (1) problem and potential identification; (2) program socialization; (3) Group Formation; (4) Workshop on VCO processing techniques; (5) result inspection; (6) Evaluation and Reflection. The outcome of this program was the formation of two coconut farmer group with 20 members. The VCO result obtained was based on the laboratory analysis of PT Saraswanti Indo Genetech which in accordance to the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).