BLORA – Tunjungan Village, Blora, Central Java is known for its robust nature tourism potential. This potential is further supported by BRIlian Village program that showcases the culinary prospect of a particular horticulture commodity, durian.

As is known, the BRIlian Village program has been initiated by BRI since 2020. Its purpose is to create an economic resilience through the utilisation of Indonesian villages’ potentials under four main value criteria: active village-owned enterprises, digitalisation, sustainability, and innovation.

Andi Aminuddin is an actor in the durian-related micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME), as well as a supervisor of village-owned enterprises in Tunjungan Village. He said that Tunjungan has been locally known for its man-made natural tourist attraction in the form of Greneng Reservoir, whose main purpose is for irrigation. Surrounding the area, there are also other tourist attractions, such as Cemoro Pitu and Greneng Plantation.

On the other hand, as other MSME players in said village have been supported by Mantri BRI, new tourism potential arises, which is durian as culinary products. His party confirms that Tunjungan enterprises have assisted in managing the potential of MSME, including the cassava-based sermier chips, gadung chips, and plantain chips. Now, the latest MSME is durian culinary tourism, which transform the village to Durian Village.

“The people have durian plantations, hence the name Durian Village. Through this BRIlian Village program, we expand said Durian Village,” Aminuddin added.

According to Aminuddin, Durian Village has been introduced in early 2023 after the local enterprises receives stimulus through BRI’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program of BRI. At first, the people only sold their durians to collectors. However, as of now, the people’s plantation, which has employed approximately 300 farmers, has been transformed to a tourist attraction.

In the Durian Village of Tunjungan, visitors may consume durian in site, even waiting for the durian to ripen right on the trees and fall. “From this CSR assistance, we develop Durian Village. We manage people’s plantations, and we turn them into attraction. Local MSMEs also participates as they offer complements to durian,” Aminuddin further explained.

Aminuddin also mentioned that he himself is initiating the production and sales of durian chocolate as one of top products. His durian chocolate is made without any preserves with a shelf life of 1 month in freezer.

Therefore, he is currently only able to serve by orders. Aminuddin markets his products in social media in limited quantities, adjusting the raw materials supply that is highly dependent to durian season.

Financial Literacy and Inclusivity by BRI

On top of MSME empowerment and the promotion of tourism potentials in his region, Aminuddin said that another huge benefit from BRIlian Village program is financial literacy and inclusivity. The people are introduced to formal and legal access to capitalisation, equipped with benefits that could be applied to their respective business classes.

Then, the people are able to get used to non-cash payment through QRIS. According to Aminuddin, it is a breakthrough that will facilitate tourists’ transaction with local MSME players.

“BRI provides assistance and empowerment, particularly for MSME development. There is the introduction of QRIS, micro credit, and others. Especially QRIS, whose benefits could be felt by now. Making a purchase without cash is available now. It is easier for tourists that visit Durian Village to make transactions using QRIS,” Aminuddin added.

Therefore, he believes that various empowerment programs that are initiated by BRI may promote local people’s welfare. Even younger MSME players gain more vigour and spirit as their local tourism improves.

Director of Micro of BRI, Supari, said that on top of empowerment, literacy and inclusivity have been internalised and listed as an agenda that is implemented in BRIlian Village program through the relationship manager of micro segment, also known as Mantri, which have been dispersed across Indonesia. BRI is able to improve financial inclusivity through financing programs in BRIlian Village. Furthermore, Mantri BRI may curate its users’ record to allow them to upgrade.

“As this BRIlian Village is an empowerment program that aims to generate role models in village development through implementation of advanced village leadership practices, along with the spirit of collaboration to optimise the villages’ potentials based on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Supari said. (BRI/ZH)