During COVID-19 Pandemic, an Entrepreneur Gains Profit Selling Parijoto Syrups

Jakarta, 7th of July 2020 - PT Phapros Tbk allocated CSR partnership fund worth Rp1.9 billion, some of which was given to parijoto syrup beverage entrepreneur who made revenue of up to Rp150 million per month during this pandemic

The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector contributed 60.3% of Indonesia's total gross domestic product (GDP). Especially with the number of MSMEs now reaching 64.2 million units, this main contributing factor to the national economy is able to absorb 97% of the total workforce and 99% of total employment. In the transition period after the Covid-19 pandemic, it needs a lot of support so that the MSME sector can be back on track.

PT Pharpros Tbk, a subsidiary of PT Kimia Farma Tbk, provides working capital to MSME entrepreneurs as part of the implementation of the Partnership Program. For 2020, the company has allocated a Partnership Program fund of Rp1.9 billion.

Corporate Secretary of PT Phapros Tbk, Zahmilia Akbar, said that the partnership fund is a revolving fund intended for the development of MSMEs, which are also the company's stakeholders. "until this day, PT Phapros Tbk's partnership program funds have been stable. MSME partners who get these funds are able to develop the business while fulfilling the responsibility of paying installments on time. We also allocated Community Development funds worth Rp1.6 billion, "she explained in Jakarta (7/7).

She also added that one of the MSME entrepreneurs had survived the crisis phase during the Covid-19 pandemic. Triyanto, a resident of Kudus who is also an MSME partner of PT PhaprosTbk.

"Mr. Triyanto is a parijoto syrup businessman -or Medinilla speciosa- who happens to be a partner of PT Phapros Tbk. "Parijoto fruit is an endemic plant processed in Muria Mountain, Kudus, Central Java," she remarked.

Meanwhile, Triyanto explained that the management of the Parijoto fruit began in 2015. "Initially i was just taking the opportunities. Where I live, these parijoto fruits are indeed very fruitful, and the price can soar high in the dry season approximately IDR 30,000 - IDR 50,000 per stem. The fruit doesn't taste good when eaten directly, then I started processing it into syrup in 2015 and sold on a small scale, "said the man who also has a hobby of photography.

He added that his enterprise used an online marketing strategy and formed official representative agents in several regions of Indonesia to introduce its products.

"I am more active on social media to educate the public so they are interested in becoming an agent or reseller. Even at the exhibition, when other people were looking for consumers, I instead struggled to find a new agent or reseller. At that time, my thoughts were simple, how I would maintain the continuity of this product in the future, "he explained.

Triyanto didn’t deny the fact that flavonoids, tannins, and saponins, which are antioxidants and can potentially prevent cancer, become an attraction for intrigued consumers to buy their products.

At a time when many other MSMEs are out of business, Triyanto can actually gain revenue from the sales of its parijoto syrups. "Usually I can make Rp50 million per month. At the time of the pandemic, this business experienced a surge in demand until my monthly income increased to Rp150 million," he added.

He remarked that at the time of the pandemic, the opportunity for new resellers was very open. Many people who lose their jobs or want to gain extra income, end up joining the Parijoto syrup business by becoming an agent or reseller. "They market this product online and in almost all marketplaces, parijoto syrups can now be found easily," he explained.

Now, the business is growing exponentially and has diversified products, which are the byproducts in the form of teabag and Parijoto tubruk tea. Triyanto also has a new land which is opposite directly his house, the fruitful evidence in doing business amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

"We plan to use this land as a production site with a larger capacity. I also thank Phapros because now, I can have my own production site, before that I had to produce this syrup by using (and freeloading) my parents' kitchen, "he concluded.