CENTRAL JAVA — Dompet Dhuafa, through its Central Java branch, continues to strive to enhance its role in economic empowerment, one of which is through strategic partnerships. Dompet Dhuafa, together with Amgala Foundation, officially launched the Tea Farmer Economic Empowerment Program in Bedana Village, Kalibening District, Banjarnegara Regency, on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
The program aims to increase tea plantation productivity and revive the glory of Bedana Tea by strengthening the Bedana Maju Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Group, thereby fostering economic independence among the community so they can manage their own businesses.
As a form of multi-stakeholder synergy, this program also involves the Central Java Provincial Cooperative Office and the Banjarnegara Regency Government in the process of assisting and guiding business groups. This collaboration is a strategic step in strengthening the capacity of MSMEs and the sustainability of smallholder tea businesses in Banjarnegara.
During the program launch, assistance in the form of tea processing blowers was handed over. Attendees included the Branch Head of Dompet Dhuafa Central Java, Zaini Tafrikhan; Branch Development Manager of Dompet Dhuafa, Andriansyah; Program Coordinator Manager of Amgala Foundation, Asti Yulia; and Assistant for Economy and Development of the Banjarnegara Regency Administration, Riatmojo Ponconugroho.
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Zaini Tafrikhan said that this program is a tangible manifestation of Dompet Dhuafa’s commitment to distributing zakat funds from muzakki through productive community empowerment programs.
“This is a form of our dedication to the muzakki, as well as clear evidence of Dompet Dhuafa’s commitment to continuing to provide sustainable programs that are capable of lifting the economic potential of the community,” he said.
The 45-hectare tea plantation, which was previously underutilized, is expected to become productive again thanks to more modern processing technology. The blowers that will be distributed will speed up the tea drying process, thereby boosting the efficiency and production capacity of the Bedana Maju MSME group.
Asti Yulia from the Amgala Foundation added that this program is in line with the entrepreneurship pillar, which is one of the focus areas of her organization.
“We believe that with the right tools, SMEs will gain added value and enhanced competitiveness. These blowers not only speed up production but also open opportunities for increased income for farmers,” said Yulia.
The head of the Bedana Maju MSME Group, Suheb, also expressed his gratitude for the assistance and guidance provided. According to him, the tea drying equipment provided has brought significant changes to the production process.
“Usually, manual drying could only process a few ounces in half a day. But with this drying machine, we can process up to 30 kilograms of wet tea into 8 kilograms of dried tea. Alhamdulillah, production has become much faster and productivity has increased,” Suheb explained.
Now, with the support of new machinery, farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bedana once again have hope for developing local tea into high-quality products that can be accepted by a broader market that prioritizes taste, quality, and the local story of the Dieng Mountains, which are the source of the tea leaves.
The village’s location, nestled among hills and surrounded by picturesque rice fields and tea plantations, adds to the appeal of creating a premium-quality mountain tea with a distinctive character.
Through this cross-institutional collaboration, Dompet Dhuafa and Amgala Foundation hope that this empowerment program can continue and provide long-term benefits for the people of Banjarnegara and its surrounding areas. Not only from an economic perspective, but also in reviving the spirit of mutual cooperation, independence, and the regeneration of tea farmers in the mountainous region of Banjarnegara. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Anndini, DD Central Java
Editor: Dhika