Page 162 - Proceeding The 2nd International Seminar of Science and Technology : Accelerating Sustainable Innovation Towards Society 5.0

nd
The 2 International Seminar of Science and Technology
“Accelerating Sustainable innovation towards Society 5.0”
ISST 2022 FST UT 2022
Universitas Terbuka
3 RESULTS
Diversification of Cassava in Sungai Suci Farmers Group Pasar
Pedati Village is a cassava production center in Central Bengkulu
Regency. This village is one of 17 villages in Pondok Kelapa District,
1 km from the sub-district capital and relatively close to Bengkulu City
(the capital of Bengkulu Province), which is only about 15 km. Of the
99 ha of cassava harvested area in Central Bengkulu Regency [2], 65
ha are in Pasar Pedati Village. Pasar Pedati Village consists of 13 RTs
dominated by local ethnic groups (Lembak and Rejang Tribes). The
number of farmer groups in Pasar Pedati Village is four groups. The
Sungai Suci Farmers Group is in RT 3, whose residents are ethnic
Javanese, consisting of 20 farmers.
The Sungai Suci Farmer Group was formed in 2008 by the Javanese
overseas community, who came in waves and began to live in RT 3
Desa Pasar Pedati in 1985. The first group that came to RT 3, totaling
ten families, were workers who were paid to maintain and cultivate the
land. Vacant land in the area by the owners who live outside the
village. Most Sungai Suci Farmer Group members make a living as
farmers and processors of cassava, especially chips. Men work in
cultivating activities while women farmers in product processing
activities. The produce is sold to middlemen (collectors) who distribute
it to markets in Bengkulu City, Central Bengkulu Regency, and other
regencies in Bengkulu Province.
Farmers use a local variety of cassava called “Jasmine Yam” as raw
material for making chips. Farmers like the Jasmine sweet potato
because the harvest time is faster (6 months old plants can be
harvested), the tuber shape is straighter with a denser texture (not
soft), so it is easy to slice when making chips, the color of the chips is
whiter. Ensuring the continuity of the production of the chips required
the availability of fresh cassava in sufficient quantities. Therefore,
farmers do not plant cassava simultaneously but adjust the cropping
pattern so they can always harvest. Usually, the production of chips
will decrease during school holidays and the fasting month due to

ISST 2022 – FST Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia 139
International Seminar of Science and Technology “Accelerating Sustainable
Towards Society 5.0