ACEH —— The sound of waves on the island of Aceh is not just a sign of life for fishermen. Behind it lies a story of innovation, empowerment, and the spirit of women who have transformed the potential of the sea into a source of livelihood.
Meet Afrita Ida Utami (32), Coordinator of the Octopus Cracker Empowerment Program at Dompet Dhuafa Aceh, who proves that something as simple as octopus can create significant opportunities for the local economy.
However, who would have thought that this simple idea originated from a local cooking competition organized by Dompet Dhuafa Aceh. With the main objective of showcasing Aceh Island’s signature octopus dishes, Afrita, a graduate of Marine Science who was working in a university laboratory at the time, was invited to be a speaker.
“Some people only process it into satay or noodle mixes. Meanwhile, we want to promote this octopus so that it can become a unique souvenir that can raise the profile of our region. From there, we researched how to make octopus products that can last a long time. Finally, we came up with octopus crackers,” said Mulya, Program Manager of Dompet Dhuafa Aceh.
Before there was a production house, Makpulo brand octopus crackers began production in Afrita’s home, where everything was done manually. From mixing, cutting, drying, to packaging. According to Afrita, the initial orders were only three packs, but over time, orders continued to increase, reaching 500 packs per week today.
Not wanting to stop at small-scale production, Afrita began distributing her products to stores in Banda Aceh. Now, the octopus crackers can be found in 13 stores in Banda Aceh and 10 stores in Sabang through two distributors.
Behind the production process, Afrita involves housewives and young students. Two of them are Reva Safrina (19) and Rauzannur (21), students at Syiah Kuala University who are also orphans.
“I first heard about it on Instagram. When I saw the job posting, I applied right away. Alhamdulillah, the salary here is decent, so I don’t always have to ask my parents for money,” Reva said with a smile.
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For Reva and Rauzan, being part of this program is more than just a side job. More than that, they say it is a source of pride, because these octopus crackers are the first of their kind in Aceh. And if the name becomes more widely known in the future, they can help bring fame to their own region.
Of course, it’s not just Reva and Rauzan. Through this program, Afrita is also helping octopus fishermen and boosting the economy of coastal communities. Currently, the Kerupuk Gurita team is preparing new variants, namely spicy and seaweed, as well as healthy snacks specifically for children, and other additional products such as octopus sambal menus.
“We want this product to be enjoyed by all groups. The current product is actually suitable for children because it contains no added flavor enhancers and is high in protein; we will just modify the texture later,” explained Afrita.
It’s not just about product variants and types; Afrita and other members are also exploring distribution opportunities in Bali and Surabaya. They are even considering collaborations with major minimarkets in Indonesia.
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Mulya, as the Program Manager of Dompet Dhuafa Aceh, has been involved in this program since its inception. From research, providing tools, financial assistance, to production management training. This Octopus Cracker Empowerment Program was born from zakat funds that not only create products but also generate employment opportunities, foster self-reliance, and strengthen women’s roles in family economics.
“This program is funded by zakat, and we want its benefits to be sustainable. Not just for one or two years, but to continue growing, so that the people of Aceh Island can be proud to have their own product,” Mulya concluded. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Surnawati
Editor: Ronna