Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Melalui Pengelolaan Gula Tebu Menjadi Gula Pasir Di Kelurahan Palleko Kecamatan Polongbangkeng Utara Kabupaten Takalar

Fathur Frihatna
St. Nasriah
Audah Mannan
Muh. Anwar

Jurnal Berita Sosial
Vol 10 No 2 (2025)

This study aims to examine the forms, processes, and impacts of community empowerment through the processing of sugarcane into granulated sugar in Palleko Village, North Polongbangkeng District, Gowa Regency. In this context, community empowerment is a crucial approach to promoting economic independence based on local potential, particularly in the agro-industrial sector. This research begins with the phenomenon of local communities utilizing sugarcane, which they independently process into a higher-value product, namely granulated sugar. This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collection techniques including observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Informants in the study included community leaders, sugarcane managers, village officials, and empowerment facilitators. The data obtained were analyzed using data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing techniques to fully understand the social and economic dynamics generated by the empowerment activities. The results indicate that the community empowerment program through sugarcane management has a significant impact on increasing household income, strengthening production capacity, and fostering collective awareness for independent entrepreneurship. The empowerment process involved technical training, access to simple capital, and the formation of working groups facilitated by the village and local community leaders. However, this empowerment process still faces several challenges, including limited modern production equipment, unstable market access, and weak business management within community groups. Nevertheless, the spirit of mutual cooperation and active community participation are key strengths supporting the sustainability of this program. Therefore, this study recommends the need for continued support from local governments, increased local institutional capacity, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen the local sugar product value chain. This kind of local resource-based community empowerment can be an effective model for sustainably strengthening the micro-economy and social resilience of rural communities.