Jarum Village is the center of Hand-drawen batik fabrics, Batik kayu (t/n. Batik pattern printed on wood/lumber), and leather-based batik. The establishment of Jarum Village as rural tourism has not been optimal in creating value for the village residents, even with the establishment of tourism awareness groups and batik craftsmen associations. This is because the available supporting infrastructure has not been optimally utilized due to limited human resources (HR).

Community Service Team from Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Solo provides assistance by providing science and technology and business management mentoring, as well as providing support and solutions in accordance with the problems faced by the Putri Kawung Bayat Joint Business Group (Kube).

The team consists of Dr. Djuminah, MSi., Ak.; Prof. Dr. Rahmawati, MSi., Ak.; Dr. Sri Hartoko, MBA., Ak.; Ari Kuncara Widagdo, SE., MBA., PhD., Ak.; Drs. Agus Budiatmanto, MSi., Ak.; Dr. Sarah Rum Handayani, MHum.; and Dra. Siti Nurlaela, MSi., Ak.

The team mapped the need and assessment using in-depth interview techniques. This assessment includes problems faced by partners and the priority of problems to be resolved according to their urgency.

“Support from UNS includes support from the expert teams in order to improve production process capacity. The advanced technology innovation shared with the business group also includes the transfer of appropriate technology (TTG) for the coloring process to improve the quality of the color and prevent the color from fading,” said Djuminah.

The UNS expert team also assists the business group regarding its long-term independence. This assistance was done by strengthening the business group institution with the incubation of Sharia cooperatives. The village also received support from other parties to foster the crafters’ motivation in Jarum Village. The joint business group also received support from the village government in the form of a showroom for the group members’ products and the assistance of six sewing machines from the Klaten Industry and Labor Office (Diperinaker). However, the assistance has not been optimally utilized by Kube Putri Kawung. “The community service activities carried out by the UNS team are designed in such a way that they provide benefits for all parties,” she said.

Further, she elaborates that for UNS academics, lecturers are one of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education activities implementation. Students assisting in this activity can get additional knowledge for hands-on learning about problems in the community and solutions that can be taken. Especially for Kube Batik Putri Kawung, this activity provides an overview and experience for the next product innovation.

“The purpose of this community service activity is to encourage the development of the Jarum Village potential, which is constrained by several problems after the Covid-19 pandemic. The community service and research activities are designed for multi-year in order to improve the environmentally friendly production processes capacity, to improve marketing capacity based on information technology, strengthen institutional aspect, and improve the adoption of appropriate technology,” Rahmawati explained.

In terms of innovation, the community service team offers a particular method to improve the quality of batik products, which is by mixing natural colors with clay soil in the region.

The initial observation was carried out in order to evaluate the limitations and constraints faced by Kube Putri Kawung in order to popularize batik potential to the wider community in Jarum Village. Until then, a number of strategic activities were carried out.

The team also provides various other assistance. Among others are, conducting education on brand awareness and a number of business management skills, such as financial management, sales packaging, and promotion. The practice of environmentally friendly production processes with natural colors mixed with clay soil, as well as strengthening the capacity to diversify both the diversification of Klaten’s distinctive motifs and batik derivative products.

The activity was attended by participants from Kube Putri Kawung. This assistance is expected to improve the products quality, thus, boosting sales turnover. Further, it will improve the standard of living of the people of Jarum Village, Bayat District, Klaten Regency.