At Mujirah’s home in Benteng Makmur Village, the sizzle of cassava chips signals change. Mujirah leads the Mandiri Jaya Women’s Group—which is supported by the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS)—where 11 women from oil palm families now run a thriving home industry. After a study tour to West Sumatra, they launched their spicy cassava and plantain chips business. Their monthly production now exceeds 100 kg, earning them nearly 1 million IDR net profit per month.

From Mujirah’s kitchen, their products reach local markets and schools, increasing their recognition while reducing reliance on oil-palm . FZS mentors the group in financial management and bookkeeping, preparing them to scale up their operations sustainably as demand grows.

Beyond business, these women champion conservation. Through social forestry initiatives, they and their families manage forest plantations,protecting critical wildlife corridors for Sumatran elephants and tigers in the Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape.

Their journey demonstrates thet women’s entrepreneurship can strengthen both community resilience and biodiversity, turning home-based enterprises into guardinas of the habitat.

Since its formation in August 2024, the group has engaged 11 women in agroforestry-based enterprises. With guidance from FZS gender specialist, they identified two key opportunities: producing snack chips and post-harvest processing of agroforestry crops like coffee and pepper. After a study tour to West Sumatra, they launched their small-scale business, starting with cassava and plantain chips. A collective savings system ensures sustainability, and their products now reach local markets and schools. 

These women are not only securing new income sources but also actively contributing to social forestry initiatives. Through the Hutan Tanaman Rakyat (HTR) program, they and their husbands are managing forest plantations, balancing economic needs with environmental conservation. Their efforts show that women’s leadership in agroforestry strengthens both livelihoods and biodiversity, ensuring a more resilient future for the Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape.