WONOSOBO – Gondang Village, Wonosobo Regency, is demonstrating extraordinary potential through its flagship product: Sundanese chips made from taro. Taro, once abundant with annual production of up to 400 tons, is now no longer worth its low price after being processed into a savory and crunchy snack.
This product has become a new source of income for local housewives who are members of the Sundanese Chips Home Industry (IRT). However, significant challenges arise as market demand continues to rise while production capacity remains limited due to the all-manual production method.
In response to this problem, the community service team from Politeknik Negeri Semarang (Polines) is here to provide a solution through the application of the concept lean productionThis program presents appropriate technology in the form of taro slicing machines and machines. spinner pulling oil to speed up the production process while improving the quality of the chips.
"With this technology, production capacity, which was previously only 10 kilograms per day, has been increased to 20 kilograms per day, while simultaneously reducing raw material waste. In addition to modernizing production, occupational health is also a major concern," said Polines lecturer Wahyu Isti Nugroho.
He said the community service team introduced safer food-grade equipment, including sanitation procedures for the production environment in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices standards.
According to him, this effort not only creates more hygienic and healthy products but also protects workers from the risk of accidents and exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace. Equally important, strengthening financial management is also being done through the digitization of cash flow recording.
Mother entrepreneurs are trained to use a simple application to record income and expenses online. real-timeThis way, business management becomes more transparent, measurable, and ready to compete in a wider market.
"This transformation also increases digital literacy among rural women, which was previously limited to the use of social media," she explained in a press release on Monday (September 22, 2025). The empowerment program is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly poverty alleviation, gender equality, and public health and well-being.
The success of the Wonosobo Sundanese Chips IRT is expected to serve as an inspiring model for other villages. The combination of appropriate technology, modern management, and women's empowerment can foster economic independence while simultaneously elevating local potential to a higher level.
For the implementation of this program, the community service team and partners appreciate the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) through the support of the Community Service Community Partnership Program (PKM) for the 2025 Fiscal Year. Kemendiktisaintek has provided opportunities and funding so that the activity can run successfully.
Source: rri.co.id