Turning Cassava into High-Value Processed Commodities

A community empowerment program is underway in Padukuhan Clapar I, Kulon Progo, Indonesia, spearheaded by Universities AKPRIND Indonesia and Gunung Kidul. The initiative, part of the Student Community Service (PMM) grant, focuses on elevating cassava, a staple local food, from a low-value raw commodity to a high-value processed product.

The program seeks to change the community's perspective on utilizing local produce. Instead of selling cassava in its raw form, which yields minimal profit, the project introduces appropriate technology to create a variety of appealing and competitive processed goods. This effort is funded by the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) under the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Science, and Technology.

Yuli Purwanto, the head of the PMM program at Universitas AKPRIND Indonesia, explained that the initiative is designed to optimize local potential effectively. "This program is directed so that the cassava potential in the community is not just sold as raw material. With the support of appropriate technology, cassava can be processed into various products that have added value and have the potential to increase community income," Yuli stated in a press release on Thursday (August 13, 2026).

The core of the movement emphasizes a self-reliant and sustainable lifestyle. Purwanto believes that simply providing physical equipment is insufficient for long-term change. He stressed the importance of intensive mentoring to ensure the community can operate, maintain, and utilize the new technologies optimally and sustainably.

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This program is directed so that the cassava potential in the community is not just sold as raw material. With the support of appropriate technology, cassava can be processed into various products that have added value and have the potential to increase community income.