Ogan Ilir, The Indonesia Post – Facing a difficult situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of them are trying to survive in various ways. What’s more, not a few people were sent home and lost their jobs due to being affected by Covid-19.
One of the main business opportunities during a pandemic is the manufacture of palm sugar. Like in Ulak Segelung village, Indralaya sub-district, Ogan Ilir district, there is a business to make Wak Uban palm sugar which has been in production for the last one month.
Seeing the progress of the Wak Uban palm sugar-making business, it encouraged the interest of the Head of the PKK South Sumatra, Feby Deru, to have a look at palm sugar processing.
There he witnessed the technical process of making palm sugar which previously began with tapping the air from the palm tree. The sap from the taps is then boiled for 4 to 5 hours depending on the amount in the furnace.
When the sap has turned red to red, then take a little and then put it in the water to ensure the level of maturity.
“The business of making palm sugar is now one of the business opportunities that the community is interested in. The process of making it is quite complicated. However, if it is practiced and studied, it can improve the economy,” when Feby saw the manufacture of palm sugar in Ulak Segelung village, Tuesday (13/10/2020) afternoon.
Continuing the palm sugar-making business can help people who are affected by covid-19, because making palm sugar requires craftsmen in every process.
The production results are also of good quality and purely from the sap without the addition of preservatives
“The price is quite affordable. For 1 kg of palm sugar, it is sold for Rp. 30,000. We also help with marketing in the South Sumatra PKK cooperative. We do this to facilitate MSMEs in marketing their products as well as ease buyers who want to get palm sugar with good quality”, she added.
The business of making Wak Uban palm sugar produces 5 kg of palm sugar every day.
As said by Nilawati, a craftsman who works in the business of making palm sugar Wak Uban. He mentioned that from 1 palm tree, 1 kg of palm sugar can be produced.
“There are 1,200 palm trees in the plantation with an area of 5 hectares. 7 trees have been harvested and processed into sugar,” she said.
Nilawati added that the process of making Wak Uban palm sugar is still done traditionally using firewood where the results are better processed using a stove. (imf/ril)
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