Indonesian university boosts bamboo village with tech and digital marketing

Universitas Darussalam (UNIDA) Gontor is spearheading an initiative to elevate Kampung Bambu (Bamboo Village) in Mojorejo Village, Ponorogo, Indonesia, beyond traditional crafts. The university's third-year Community Development Program (PDB) is equipping local artisans with modern tools and knowledge in technology, design, business management, and digital marketing.

The program, led by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Muslih, involves close collaboration with the community, local businesses Roemah Bamboe and Deling Studio, and the Mojorejo Village government. The focus is on addressing the daily challenges faced by the artisans. Roemah Bamboe is concentrating on improving production capacity and quality, while Deling Studio is fostering design creativity and expanding market access.

Artisans are actively involved in identifying needs and shaping the development direction, ensuring that the provided technology and training directly address their issues. Innovations introduced include steam dryers for raw material processing, electric finishing equipment, laser cutters, and vacuum packaging systems. These technologies are expected to improve product quality, consistency, and add value, enabling artisans to scale their businesses effectively.

Beyond production, the program encompasses digital bookkeeping, inventory management, e-commerce marketing, eco-lifestyle design development, quality control, and catalog photography. Training is delivered through workshops, practical sessions, and ongoing mentorship, ensuring the sustainable adoption and development of new skills and technologies by the community.

The university's third year of the program also emphasizes prototype development, brand identity, and digital marketing to help Mojorejo's bamboo products reach a wider consumer base. Crucially, the Mojorejo Village government's support ensures the program's integration into local development agendas, creating a sustainable framework through the combined strengths of academia, community expertise, and institutional backing.