Community Empowerment of Bunut Leather Shoes Craftsmen by the Asahan Regency Industry and Trade Cooperative Office

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 114 views

Community Empowerment of Bunut Leather Shoes Craftsmen by the Asahan Regency Industry and Trade Cooperative Office

Introduction

The development of regional industries is a crucial aspect of economic growth, and the empowerment of local craftsmen is a vital step in achieving this goal. In Asahan Regency, the Industry and Trade Cooperative Office plays a significant role in developing the leather shoe craft sector, which is a typical product of the region. This study aims to explore the empowerment process of leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency, including the factors that support and inhibit this process, as well as the efforts made by related agencies.

Methodology

This study employed a qualitative approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of the empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen. The data collection techniques used included observation, in-depth interviews, literature studies, and documentation. The data analysis was carried out through several stages, namely data reduction, data presentation, drawing conclusions (verification), and triangulation to ensure the accuracy of the information.

Theoretical Framework

The theory of empowerment put forward by Totok Mardikanto emphasizes the importance of approaches that include human development, business development, community development, and institutional development. The Asahan Regency Industry and Trade Cooperative Office has implemented these principles in empowering efforts, providing leather shoe craftsmen with the necessary support.

Empowerment Efforts

The Industry and Trade Cooperative Office has made significant efforts to empower leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency. One of the challenges faced by craftsmen is limited access to a wider market, which has an impact on sales and income. To overcome this, the Industry and Trade Cooperative Office has conducted marketing and access training to the online platform, enabling craftsmen to reach a broader consumer base.

Skill Improvement

Aspects of skill improvement are also a main focus of the empowerment efforts. Many craftsmen need additional training to improve product quality and design their leather shoes. The Industry and Trade Cooperative Office has collaborated with various educational and training institutions to provide appropriate programs.

Challenges and Obstacles

Despite the efforts made by the Industry and Trade Cooperative Office, there are still various obstacles encountered by leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency. One of the challenges is the limited access to a wider market, which has an impact on sales and income. Additionally, many craftsmen need additional training to improve product quality and design their leather shoes.

Conclusion

The empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency has been going well, although there are still various obstacles encountered. The Industry and Trade Cooperative Office has implemented the principles of human development, business development, community development, and institutional development in empowering efforts, providing leather shoe craftsmen with the necessary support. By continuing to overcome existing obstacles and strengthening support for craftsmen, it is hoped that leather shoe products from Asahan can be better known and accepted in a wider market.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

The Industry and Trade Cooperative Office should continue to provide marketing and access training to the online platform to enable craftsmen to reach a broader consumer base.
The Industry and Trade Cooperative Office should collaborate with various educational and training institutions to provide appropriate programs for skill improvement.
The Industry and Trade Cooperative Office should continue to overcome existing obstacles and strengthen support for craftsmen to ensure the success of the empowerment efforts.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

The study was conducted in a specific region, Asahan Regency, and may not be generalizable to other regions.
The study was based on a qualitative approach, which may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on:

Conducting a quantitative study to provide a comprehensive understanding of the empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen.
Conducting a study in other regions to compare the empowerment efforts of leather shoe craftsmen.
Conducting a study on the impact of the empowerment efforts on the economic development of the region.

References

Mardikanto, T. (2010). Empowerment: A Conceptual Framework. Journal of Empowerment in Organizations, 1(1), 1-15.
Industry and Trade Cooperative Office. (2020). Annual Report.
Literature studies and documentation.

Appendix

List of interviewees
List of documents reviewed
List of references cited in the study.
Q&A: Community Empowerment of Bunut Leather Shoes Craftsmen by the Asahan Regency Industry and Trade Cooperative Office

Q: What is the main goal of the Asahan Regency Industry and Trade Cooperative Office in empowering leather shoe craftsmen?

A: The main goal of the Asahan Regency Industry and Trade Cooperative Office is to develop the leather shoe craft sector in Asahan Regency, which is a typical product of the region, and to support economic growth and promote regional products.

Q: What are the challenges faced by leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency?

A: One of the challenges faced by leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency is limited access to a wider market, which has an impact on sales and income. Additionally, many craftsmen need additional training to improve product quality and design their leather shoes.

Q: What efforts have been made by the Industry and Trade Cooperative Office to overcome these challenges?

A: The Industry and Trade Cooperative Office has conducted marketing and access training to the online platform, enabling craftsmen to reach a broader consumer base. Additionally, the office has collaborated with various educational and training institutions to provide appropriate programs for skill improvement.

Q: What is the significance of the empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency?

A: The empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency is significant because it can contribute to the economic development of the region. By supporting local craftsmen, the Industry and Trade Cooperative Office can help to promote regional products and increase income for craftsmen.

Q: What are the benefits of the empowerment efforts for leather shoe craftsmen?

A: The benefits of the empowerment efforts for leather shoe craftsmen include improved access to a wider market, increased income, and improved product quality and design.

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The study has several limitations, including the fact that it was conducted in a specific region, Asahan Regency, and may not be generalizable to other regions. Additionally, the study was based on a qualitative approach, which may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen.

Q: What are the recommendations for future research?

A: Future research should focus on conducting a quantitative study to provide a comprehensive understanding of the empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen. Additionally, future research should focus on conducting a study in other regions to compare the empowerment efforts of leather shoe craftsmen.

Q: What are the implications of the study for policy makers and practitioners?

A: The study has implications for policy makers and practitioners in the field of regional development and industry empowerment. The study highlights the importance of supporting local craftsmen and promoting regional products to contribute to economic development.

Q: What are the future directions for the empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency?

A: The future directions for the empowerment of leather shoe craftsmen in Asahan Regency include continuing to provide marketing and access training to the online platform, collaborating with educational and training institutions to provide appropriate programs for skill improvement, and continuing to overcome existing obstacles and strengthen support for craftsmen.

Q: What are the potential benefits of the empowerment efforts for the community?

A: The potential benefits of the empowerment efforts for the community include increased income for craftsmen, improved product quality and design, and increased access to a wider market. Additionally, the empowerment efforts can contribute to the economic development of the region and promote regional products.

Q: What are the potential challenges of the empowerment efforts?

A: The potential challenges of the empowerment efforts include limited access to a wider market, limited resources, and limited capacity of the Industry and Trade Cooperative Office to provide support to craftsmen.

Q: What are the potential solutions to the challenges of the empowerment efforts?

A: The potential solutions to the challenges of the empowerment efforts include increasing access to a wider market through marketing and access training, increasing resources through collaboration with educational and training institutions, and increasing capacity of the Industry and Trade Cooperative Office through training and capacity building programs.