Yogyakarta, July 27th 2020—Gadjah Mada University’s Community Service organization (PkM) held the first discussion session on Monday (27/7). This discussion was titled “Mapping Pesantren (Religious Boarding School) Socio-Economic Vulnerability and Resilience”. This discussion was filled by two speakers from the PkM research team; Luqman Nul Hakim and Mustaghfiroh Rahayu. There were also other speakers such as Ahsan Salim as a convection businessman in Mlangi and Muhammad Mustafied as the caretaker of PPIM Aswaja Nusantara Pesantren in Mlangi. Through Webex, Rully Mufarika as the moderator started the discussion at10 am.
The discussion started with a short video screening about the pandemic and its effect on Mlangi’s convection production. Luqman then explained the reason why his research is focused on the convection business that has been in Mlangi for a long time. The problem with the convection business is complex. Luqman said that the pandemic not only affects the distribution process but also the production process. Other than that, compared to other sectors at Mlati, the convection sector is hit the hardest during the pandemic. “Compared to other sectors, this sector is affected the most economically because 90% of the market is dependent on tourism,” Luqman explained.
Rahayu then elaborated the challenges that the convection business faces during her research for one and a half month in Mlati. The first problem is the uncertainty of when the pandemic will end, this makes the small businessmen in the convection sector more vulnerable in the social and economic aspect. The second problem is the fact that the complexity of the production-distribution chain at the Mlangi convection is reliant on the tourism sector. The third problem is that there is no comprehensive mapping from the government about the pandemic’ effect on small and informal business. The fourth problem is the fact that Mlangi’s businessmen usually work in their own house. The business therefore can be characterized as informal, within a family scale, and it doesn’t need a lot of capital.
Based on those challenges, Rahayu found that there are two recommendations – long term and short term recommendation – that is issued by her and her team. The short term recommendation is to reorient the production and training as well as to teach businessman digital economy. Additionally, a strategic and safe analysis on opening the tourism sector as well as allocating a budget for managing the pandemic’s socio-economic effect in the society is needed.
Rahayu also elaborated several long term recommendations which includes the suggestion to transform the economy after the pandemic. Not only that, a cross-sector synergy – between small businesses and the tourism economy – is needed. Creating marketing facilities is also seen as a good option. “These two suggestions can be done by future generations, for example by the children of the convection stores,” Rahayu added.
To round up the research elaboration, Ahsan Salim elaborated the condition in Mlangi. One of the convection store said that the convection condition in Mlangi can also be seen in Malioboro. “When Malioboro is closed, the production and distribution process in Mlangi also needs to be closed,” Ahsan said.
Ahsan also said that the production process in the convection business doesn’t always come to a halt. Some businessmen chose to deviate to another sector such as making a mask. Even though that is the case, he said the revenue from that business can’t cover the production cost before the pandemic. Other than that, Ahsan also said that the asset cycle is crashing. “If businesses don’t sell other assets such as their land and vehicles, it will be hard for them to get back up,” he said.
Adding to the previous speakers’ statements, Mustafid highlighted several things that needs to be paid attention to. He said that a lot of the convection businesses in Mlangi are discontinued. This could be because many children chose to not continue their parents’ business. Other than that, Mustafid also said that the convection businesses in Mlangi are still managed with traditional systems.
Mustafid said that Mlangi’s citizen technical knowledge is astounding in the convection business. But, the design innovation is lacking. “We have yet to find a convection design that can be a trendsetter,” he explained.
In relation to the pesantren, Mustafid said that the society and the pesantren used to have a strong economic collaboration. This is because the majority of pesantren students or santri in Mlangi is an employee and they get their money from working in the convection business. Mustafit admits that this is not the case anymore. He said that the convection employees are not santri but they are outsourced from people outside of Mlangi. “The connection should be strengthened once again because a lot of pesantren teach santri to be independent and to have their own skillset. Therefore, when they go home, they can do something,” Mustafid added.
The discussion started with a short video screening about the pandemic and its effect on Mlangi’s convection production. Luqman then explained the reason why his research is focused on the convection business that has been in Mlangi for a long time. The problem with the convection business is complex. Luqman said that the pandemic not only affects the distribution process but also the production process. Other than that, compared to other sectors at Mlati, the convection sector is hit the hardest during the pandemic. “Compared to other sectors, this sector is affected the most economically because 90% of the market is dependent on tourism,” Luqman explained.
Rahayu then elaborated the challenges that the convection business faces during her research for one and a half month in Mlati. The first problem is the uncertainty of when the pandemic will end, this makes the small businessmen in the convection sector more vulnerable in the social and economic aspect. The second problem is the fact that the complexity of the production-distribution chain at the Mlangi convection is reliant on the tourism sector. The third problem is that there is no comprehensive mapping from the government about the pandemic’ effect on small and informal business. The fourth problem is the fact that Mlangi’s businessmen usually work in their own house. The business therefore can be characterized as informal, within a family scale, and it doesn’t need a lot of capital.
Based on those challenges, Rahayu found that there are two recommendations – long term and short term recommendation – that is issued by her and her team. The short term recommendation is to reorient the production and training as well as to teach businessman digital economy. Additionally, a strategic and safe analysis on opening the tourism sector as well as allocating a budget for managing the pandemic’s socio-economic effect in the society is needed.
Rahayu also elaborated several long term recommendations which includes the suggestion to transform the economy after the pandemic. Not only that, a cross-sector synergy – between small businesses and the tourism economy – is needed. Creating marketing facilities is also seen as a good option. “These two suggestions can be done by future generations, for example by the children of the convection stores,” Rahayu added.
To round up the research elaboration, Ahsan Salim elaborated the condition in Mlangi. One of the convection store said that the convection condition in Mlangi can also be seen in Malioboro. “When Malioboro is closed, the production and distribution process in Mlangi also needs to be closed,” Ahsan said.
Ahsan also said that the production process in the convection business doesn’t always come to a halt. Some businessmen chose to deviate to another sector such as making a mask. Even though that is the case, he said the revenue from that business can’t cover the production cost before the pandemic. Other than that, Ahsan also said that the asset cycle is crashing. “If businesses don’t sell other assets such as their land and vehicles, it will be hard for them to get back up,” he said.
Adding to the previous speakers’ statements, Mustafid highlighted several things that needs to be paid attention to. He said that a lot of the convection businesses in Mlangi are discontinued. This could be because many children chose to not continue their parents’ business. Other than that, Mustafid also said that the convection businesses in Mlangi are still managed with traditional systems.
Mustafid said that Mlangi’s citizen technical knowledge is astounding in the convection business. But, the design innovation is lacking. “We have yet to find a convection design that can be a trendsetter,” he explained.
In relation to the pesantren, Mustafid said that the society and the pesantren used to have a strong economic collaboration. This is because the majority of pesantren students or santri in Mlangi is an employee and they get their money from working in the convection business. Mustafit admits that this is not the case anymore. He said that the convection employees are not santri but they are outsourced from people outside of Mlangi. “The connection should be strengthened once again because a lot of pesantren teach santri to be independent and to have their own skillset. Therefore, when they go home, they can do something,” Mustafid added.