Community Development of a Business Ecosystem in Sacha Inchi Products, Case Study of Purwakarta Farmers Through The One Village One CEO Program

Abstract

Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) possesses significant economic potential in Indonesia due to its health benefits. To harness its full potential, intensive cultivation techniques and product innovation are imperative. The Parakanlima Village, in collaboration with Bumdes Panca Mandiri (a Village Owned Enterprises) and guided by the One Village One CEO program, has successfully cultivated Sacha Inchi and introduced an innovative by-product, Sachifit. This research aims to analyse the economic, social, and environmental impacts of this program on the development of Sacha Inchi in Parakanlima Village. Employing survey methods and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with 30 respondents who involved in Sacha Inchi ecosystem business selected through purposive sampling, the findings indicate that Sacha Inchi cultivation provides positive economic impacts, including household resilience against economic fluctuations, job creation, and driving rural industrialization. Socially, this initiative has empowered the Parakanlima community, increasing opportunities for mobility in people's socio-economic status from low to high levels due to increased income and social status, and established a new youth-led community focusing on Sacha Inchi development. Based on these findings, it is recommended that stakeholders, especially policymakers and agribusiness practitioners, scale and replicate this model in other potential regions, ensuring more widespread socio-economic benefits and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.