Pemberdayaan Ibu Rumah Tangga dalam Mengolah Limbah Pelepah Sawit Menjadi Paperbag di Desa Nagori Baja Dolok

Abstract

This study aims to describe the process of empowering housewives to process oil palm frond waste into paper bags in Nagori Baja Dolok Village, Tanah Jawa District, Simalungun Regency. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, involving five informants: one expert, three housewives, and one community leader. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, and subsequently analyzed using the Miles and Huberman method, comprising data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The research results show that the empowerment process has taken place in three stages: awareness, skill transformation, and intellectual capability enhancement. The awareness stage was carried out through motivation, counseling, and discussions, which successfully increased the informants' awareness of palm frond waste utilization. The skill transformation stage was conducted through initial conditioning, demonstrations, practice, and guidance, which improved the informants' knowledge and skills in processing palm frond waste into paper bags. The stage of improving intellectual ability is carried out through guidance and giving informants the opportunity to work independently, so they can enhance their thinking skills, self-confidence, accuracy, and independence in producing paper bags. This study shows that empowerment through training in processing palm frond waste can boost the capacity of housewives while also encouraging the use of plantation waste into valuable and environmentally friendly products.