Corn (Zea Mays L) is a plantation crop that thrives in Indonesia and can be harvested 2-3 times a year. The corn harvest period is the most awaited because farmers benefit from their crops. However, most of the corn is sold a whole. The corn cobs are only burned and even thrown away as waste. The problem is that corncob waste is easily decomposed and causes an unpleasant odor. This problem has prompted Ade Kurniawan, a student of craft education at UNY, to process corncob waste into handicraft products that are sustainable, eco-friendly, and encourage zero waste implementation. Some products that have been successfully developed are bed lamps, tissue holders, wall ornaments, and decorative lights.
Ade is not alone in working on various handicraft products made from corn cob waste. Ade also empowered the villagers of Ngargosari, Kulon Progo Regency. "We created an MSME engaged in processing corncob waste called Cip Janggel," said Ade Kurniawan, Friday, July 22, 2022.
According to Ade, the corncob waste processing business has received much support because many people lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, Cip Janggel not only focuses on producing and selling handicrafts but also opens opportunities for training and education on handicrafts from leftover waste products for the community. Ade hopes this business model can continue to develop and inspire efforts to build villages with the potential of natural fiber materials, open up wider job opportunities and help empower vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities.
Ade's hard work has recently received appreciation from the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, Sandiaga Uno, in the 50 Tourism Village Awards in Indonesia at the Widosari Tourism Village. Sandiaga Uno said that Ade Kurniawan is one of the Z generations which does not aim for prestige but is proactive, creative, and innovative in taking advantage of business opportunities. "I am proud of Ade Kurniawan, who is still studying in his 4th semester at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, but has created job opportunities and has a creative spirit to develop his business" he said. He appreciated Ade's products are not only varied but support sustainable development because using disposed waste and promote zero waste. "We must support Ade. MSMEs as the backbone of the Indonesian economy must continue to grow," concluded Sandiaga Uno. (Dedy, Tj.lak)