The Role of Village Government in Empowering Purun Handicrafts in Mekar Jaya Village, Wampu District, Langkat Regency

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of the village government in empowering purun artisan businesses in Mekar Jaya Village, Wampu District, Lalat Regency. The method used is qualitative descriptive with data collection techniques through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation. The research informants include village heads, community empowerment officers, and purun artisans. The study results show that the village government's role in empowering purun artisans in Mekar Jaya Village is very strategic, including the role of regulator, dynamizer, facilitator, and catalyst. The village government runs various programs such as skills training, marketing facilitation, network development, and supervision and evaluation of empowerment programs, which positively impact the capacity, productivity, and welfare of artisans. However, empowerment efforts still face challenges such as limited access to capital, low quality of human resources, limited marketing, inadequate infrastructure, fierce market competition, and lack of private sector support. Therefore, an integrated and collaborative sustainable strategy is needed to increase program effectiveness, expand access to technology and markets, and strengthen partnerships with various parties to support village economic growth and community welfare. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis peran pemerintah desa dalam memberdayakan usaha perajin purun di Desa Mekar Jaya, Kecamatan Wampu, Kabupaten Lalat. Metode yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif dengan teknik pengumpulan data melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi partisipatif, dan dokumentasi. Informan penelitian meliputi kepala desa, petugas pemberdayaan masyarakat, dan perajin purun. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa peran pemerintah desa dalam memberdayakan perajin purun di Desa Mekar Jaya sangat strategis, meliputi peran regulator, dinamisator, fasilitator, dan katalisator. Pemerintah desa menjalankan berbagai program seperti pelatihan keterampilan, fasilitasi pemasaran, pengembangan jaringan, serta supervisi dan evaluasi program pemberdayaan, yang berdampak positif terhadap kapasitas, produktivitas, dan kesejahteraan perajin. Namun, upaya pemberdayaan masih menghadapi tantangan seperti terbatasnya akses permodalan, rendahnya kualitas sumber daya manusia, terbatasnya pemasaran, infrastruktur yang belum memadai, persaingan pasar yang ketat, dan kurangnya dukungan sektor swasta. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan strategi berkelanjutan yang terpadu dan kolaboratif untuk meningkatkan efektivitas program, memperluas akses teknologi dan pasar, serta memperkuat kemitraan dengan berbagai pihak untuk mendukung pertumbuhan ekonomi desa dan kesejahteraan masyarakat.