<![CDATA[This community service program aimed to strengthen women’s economic empowerment through the development of household-scale strawberry farming in East Paniai District, Paniai Regency, Central Papua. The program was initiated in response to the limited capacity of women farmers in managing strawberry cultivation and developing its economic potential. A participatory mentoring approach was employed through several stages, including initial observation and needs assessment, technical training, field-based mentoring, simple business and marketing assistance, and evaluation and reflection. The participants were women farmers involved in strawberry cultivation across villages in East Paniai District. Data were collected through observation, interviews, documentation, and field notes, and were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the mentoring activities contributed to the development of participants’ practical knowledge and skills in strawberry cultivation, particularly in plant maintenance, watering, fertilization, and the utilization of locally available organic materials. The use of humus derived from cemara leaves provided an adaptive practice that connected strawberry cultivation with local environmental resources. The program also encouraged participants to view strawberry cultivation as a potential household-scale economic activity rather than merely a subsistence practice. In addition, several participants demonstrated greater confidence in managing cultivation activities, making decisions, and engaging in simple marketing practices. However, the sustainability of the initiative remains constrained by environmental conditions, differences in cultivation practices, limited supporting facilities, and the relatively weak institutional capacity of farmer groups. Therefore, continued mentoring is needed to strengthen group organization, business management, production consistency, and market access. The program demonstrates that integrating women’s empowerment, local resource utilization, and householdscale agricultural entrepreneurship can provide an adaptable approach to strengthening rural livelihoods. ]]>
