Euis Eka Pramiarsih, Hadi Purnomo, Siti Anah Kunyati

Socio-Economic Empowerment of Food Vendors in Cikawao Village, Lengkong District, Bandung City

Introduction

Socio-economic empowerment of food vendors in cikawao village, lengkong district, bandung city. Empowering food vendors in Cikawao, Bandung: Learn how initiatives improved product quality, expanded marketing, organized groups, and secured vital business capital.

Abstract

Micro Enterprises are the largest absorbers of labor, providing employment for millions of people, especially in the informal sector. Cikawao, Lengkong, Bandung is a densely populated urban area, with diverse economic statuses, offices, education, culinary delights, making it an attraction for business people to carry out various activities and micro enterprises with various types of businesses have emerged, based on data from micro enterprises in Lengkong district as many as 360 MSMEs. The problems identified are: 1) Low product quality and food diversification to be marketed; 2) Limited product marketing; 3) Business group organization has not yet been established, 4) Difficulty obtaining business capital assistance; 5) Limited infrastructure for sales. The methods used in PKM are: 1) Improving product quality and diversifying food products through training, 2) Expanding food product marketing, 3) Organizing groups through FGDs, 4) Providing loans from Unla Peduli to obtain business capital, 5) Obtaining business facilities for stakeholders. The results of community service activities: 1) Increasing the number of products produced by food businesses, 2) Expanding marketing by connecting with institutions in need of food, especially for free Friday Blessing meals, 3) Establishing a food business community called "Kelompok Usaha Maju Bersama" (Joint Business Group), 4) Assisting businesses in developing funding proposals, 5) Obtaining business facilities for stakeholders.

Review

This manuscript addresses a highly relevant and timely topic concerning the socio-economic empowerment of food vendors in an urban informal sector, specifically in Cikawao Village, Bandung City. The focus on micro-enterprises, which are vital for employment absorption, is commendable. The abstract effectively identifies pertinent challenges faced by these vendors, including issues with product quality and diversification, limited marketing, lack of group organization, difficulty accessing capital, and inadequate sales infrastructure. The proposed community service (PKM) methods are practical and directly responsive to the identified problems, showcasing a hands-on approach to local development. The initial outputs, such as increased product variety, expanded marketing networks, and the formation of a business group, indicate positive engagement and initial success in implementing the interventions. However, a significant area requiring clarification and strengthening lies in the methodological rigor and the assessment of "socio-economic empowerment" as implied by the title. The abstract outlines a series of community service *activities* rather than a research methodology designed to *evaluate* empowerment. There is no mention of data collection methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, pre/post-intervention data), sampling strategies, or analytical frameworks used to measure the impact of these interventions on the vendors' socio-economic status. Consequently, the "results" presented appear more as outputs of the intervention (e.g., "establishing a community," "assisting businesses") rather than quantifiable outcomes directly measuring empowerment, such as changes in income, profits, market reach, job creation, or improved living standards. To elevate this submission from a report of community service activities to a robust journal article, the authors must clearly define the paper's scope and methodology. If the intent is to present a research study on empowerment, a more explicit research design is necessary, detailing how empowerment was defined, measured, and analyzed. This would involve outlining specific indicators, data collection instruments, and analytical techniques used to assess the change in vendors' socio-economic status *as a result* of the interventions. If the paper is primarily a descriptive account of a community service project, it should be framed as such, potentially emphasizing lessons learned and best practices for similar interventions. Given the current presentation, the abstract functions more as a project proposal and activity report, and a significant revision of the methodology and results sections is essential to meet the standards of a research publication focused on impact and analysis.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.