Developing Strategy for Enhancing Women’s Role of Sago Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Rural Area: A Case Study of Gender Issue in Southeast Sulawesi Province

Abstract

The goal of this research is to identify the obstacles, difficulties, possibilities, and threats that stand in the way of women's empowerment in the context of the expansion of small and medium businesses (MSMEs) in rural areas throughout the SWOT Analysis. This study was conducted in the South Konawe Regency of Southeast Sulawesi Province in the year 2023 employed by snowball sampling in upstream businesses and downstream industries (MSMEs sago) with purposive method. The sample consists of both housewives who are practitioners of sago MSMEs and expert responders who are policy makers as the key informant in depth interview. During the process of data gathering, several different approaches are used. These methods include observation, questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions (FGD). the expansion of sago MSMEs in Konawe Selatan falls into Quadrant 1 from a gender perspective when we use IFAS and EFAS to examine the plan to increase the capacity and productivity of sago MSMEs managed by women. This is shown when we look at the strategy. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to boost both the quality and quantity of goods in order to have a larger market share, to increase capital in order to improve both the quality and quantity of products, and to broaden both the market reach and the marketing efforts.  Small business in the sago industry in rural area is the essential business for women to increase the household income that should be encourage and to adaptable to external factors based on the study findings such as changes in weather patterns, fluctuating raw materials prices or regulatory changes. Flexibility and agility in responding to these factors are essential for long term sustainability. 

Received: 3 May 2024 / Accepted: 2 January 2025 / Published: 11 January 2025