Local Economic Development through Potato Development Areas in Karamatwangi Village, Cisurupan District, Garut Regency.

Abstract

Karamatwangi Village is one of the villages that implements local economic development to improve community welfare. In the implementation of local economic development through the Kawasan Pengembangan Kentang, there is a problem that the extent of cooperation has not been established which has an impact on the income of farm laborers, this has caused farm laborers to be in debt because they borrow money from local illegal banks (money lender). This study aims to describe an overview of: (1) partnerships, (2) employment opportunities, and (3) increased economic activity to find out how the Kawasan Pengembangan Kentangcan be beneficial for increasing the income of farm laborers in Karamatwangi Village. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method. Data sources used purposive sampling techniques to determine seven informants consisting of the Karamatwangi Village Government, Hutani Village Community Institution (LMDH), business actors, and farm laborers. Data collection techniques used are in-depth interviews, observation and documentation studies. The results showed that: (1) Kawasan Pengembangan Kentang activities have involved the active participation of the Karamatwangi Village community, (2) there are employment opportunities opened by the Kawasan Pengembangan Kentang, (3) there is an increase in skills obtained by farm laborers from the Kawasan Pengembangan Kentang. In the implementation of the Potato Development Area, there are obstacles related to the lack of increased income for farm laborers. This is because of no increase in the quality or quantity of potatoes produced, and the sale of potatoes still depends on loan shark where the expansion of cooperation carried out by the Kawasan Pengembangan Kentanghas not been widely opened. The lack of expansion of cooperation has an impact on increasing the income of farm laborers who currently farm laborers in Karamatwangi Village still have difficulty meeting their daily needs and causing some farm laborers to be in debt to money lending services, namely emok banks (local illegal banks.) The Masyarakat Mandiri Terampil Sejahtera Program (MARITERA) is designed as an effort to empower farm workers in order to increase their daily income and branding of the Kawasan Pengembangan Kentang in order to create an expansion of cooperation between potential partners.