Thanks To MoSA, Pwds In Maumere Have Successfully Processed Moringa Into Some Variants of Tea

MAUMERE (21 APRIL 2023) – We can find Moringa leaves easily in East Nusa Tenggara, especially in Maumere, Sikka Regency.  Local people use Moringa leaves to be consumed as a vegetable to accompany rice.

Recently, the abundance of Moringa leaves in Maumere has become an opportunity for the community to process them into products that are used to improve body health.  One of the initiators of this businesses is Wenefrida Efodia Susilowati.  Together with Merdeka Maumere Disability Community, the woman who is familiarly called Susi started a moringa leaf processing businesses in the homestay she manages.

“In 2015 we met President Jokowi.  She said to plant Moringa trees.  "From there we tried processing it, but it was still leaf tea," said Susi when contacted via telephone, Wednesday (19/4).

Susi and other friends with disabilities were only able to make one type of product and had difficulties in marketing due to a lack of knowledge and tools to produce processed moringa.  Luckily, Merdeka Disability Community met the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini during her working visit to Ende to commemorate the Birthday of Pancasila in June 2022.

"We sent letters, one of which asked for justice in the application of Law Number 8 of 2016 which employs at least 1% of persons with disabilities," said this 51-year-old woman.

Shortly after sending the letter, Susi admitted that her community was visited by the Ministry of Social Affairs Team from the Kupang Efata Center who carried out the assessment.  As a follow-up, 20 persons with disabilities received training conducted by Yogyakarta Center for Social Welfare Education and Training (BBPPKS) in collaboration with Maumere Diocese's Work Mission LPK and in collaboration with Sikka Social Office.  This training will take place on 15 – 17 August 2022.

The training focused on techniques for making tea from processed Moringa leaves such as processing dried Moringa leaves into powder with a blender, sifting, wrapping Moringa leaves into tea bags, and threading.  Participants also received theories about the benefits of Moringa leaves, business bookkeeping, and making processed Moringa leaf cakes.

In addition, the participants with disabilities also received coaching from Nusantara Economic Hero (PENA) to increase the selling value of the product.  "On the 17th (August) there was a training from PENA on packaging, marketing, and how to make photos.  Like which angle to take, "she explained.

In October 2022 each training participant received an Entrepreneurship ATENSI package from Kupang Efata Center.  This package is in the form of tools and materials to produce moringa preparations consisting of drying racks, manual heat sealer machines, blenders, moringa tea gauze, and other tools.  While the second stage of assistance is group assistance consisting of ovens, fans, rice thermos, stoves and gas cylinders with a value of IDR 20 million.

Entrepreneurship training and assistance were not wasted by the participants.  After receiving training and assistance, they were able to produce various types of processed moringa leaves.  For example, Susi's team consisted of six members with disabilities.  The team, named Merdeka Disability Moringa Team, has at least five types of moringa products.

"There are moringa powder teas, tea bags, moringa leaf teas, healthy Moringa leaf drinks, and capsules," she said.

The product made by Susi's team is called Moringa Left Hand or Moringa Left Hand and is sold at various prices.  Moringa powder tea is sold for IDR 50 thousand – IDR 100 thousand, tea bags IDR 20 thousand – IDR 40 thousand, Moringa leaf tea IDR 25 thousand – IDR 50 thousand, and a healthy drink mixed with Moringa leaves, ginger and orange is sold for IDR 100 thousand.  In addition to the products mentioned, Susi is currently processing permits for capsule products.

During Minister of Social Affairs' working visit to Sikka in February 2023, Minister of Social Affairs promoted processed Moringa leaf products created by Merdeka Maumere Moringa Disability Team.  According to the Minister, she actively consumes Moringa tea because it contains high antioxidants.  Minister Risma recommends that the public regularly eat processed moringa and can buy moringa products from Maumere Merdeka Disability Moringa Team.

"After being promoted by the Minister, we got a lot of orders from the island of Java.  From Surabaya, Bandung, Jakarta and from other areas," said Susi.

Moringa Left Hand products are not only in demand by domestic people, but also reach out to foreign tourists.  According to Susi, her Moringa products are mostly purchased by foreign tourists who come to Sikka.  “Those who buy are mostly foreign tourists.  There are from the Netherlands, America, England and other countries," said Susi.

For Susi, moringa production by persons with disabilities is not only about efforts to improve welfare, but about the role of persons with disabilities in creating health products that are in demand and benefited by the global community.  "Through Moringa leaves, we have participated in sharing health with the world community," she said optimistically.

Success Increases Inclusivity

Susi said that many persons with disabilities did not get proper education so they did not have skills which resulted in they are not working.  This condition forces them to stay at home and is considered a burden to the family.  This is contrary to the spirit of inclusion that is being promoted.

Entrepreneurial training and assistance from Ministry of Social Affairs, according to Susi, is like a breath of fresh air that brings hope for creating inclusiveness.  "One activity, one real action to work through the work.  Through moringa, persons with disabilities are known for their work," she said.

Through Moringa training, persons with disabilities in Maumere can have jobs, have opportunities and skills, and earn their income.  From a social standpoint, they feel proud because they can be independent and empowered, and the most important thing is to be free from dependence on the compassion of others.

Ministry of Social Affairs contributes to realizing the motto of Merdeka Maumere Disabled Community, namely "Shining their abilities", optimizing their potential instead of looking at their shortcomings.  "We do have deficiencies.  But don't look at it from that but from ability.  Yes, through this training," she said.

In line with Susi, another training participant Yosefina Noeng (62) also has the same enthusiasm to progress.  "I thank the Minister for giving us the opportunity for training in Moringa, with the tools we have to use, hopefully with these items we can be even more advanced," she said.

So far, Yosefina has only processed Moringa leaves into clear porridge and vegetables because of the lack of information about the benefits of Moringa leaves.  However, after receiving training and theory about Moringa leaves, she realized that Moringa has a myriad of benefits that can be processed into high-value products.  Therefore, the woman who is familiarly called Mama Yosef wants to be part of the work of including Moringa leaves.

 "I indeed have shortcomings, but I want to work so that we don't expect too much from help.  "We have to show we have work," she said.

Petrus Ferdi (37) also felt the benefits of training.  Throughout his life, Ferdi just stayed at home and occasionally worked in the garden without any significant income.  His daily needs are met by his family.  After the training and getting the tools and materials, Ferdi joined the Moringa Disability Merdeka Team and together they made processed Moringa leaves.  He remembers what it felt like the first time he got money from sales.

 “I got IDR 700 thousand.  I feel happy because I earn my own money.  All this time I have no money and am waiting for someone to give me money.  When I got it I immediately bought fish, bought rice for home.  My family is proud," he said.

Currently, Maumere Moringa Disability Merdeka Team is starting a business center for typical Maumere moringa souvenirs.  This is the first step to creating jobs for persons with disabilities.  The hope is that the Moringa businesses can develop so that they can be exported to foreign countries and Moringa Team can contribute to assisting the Ministry of Social Affairs in providing Moringa training for persons with disabilities throughout Indonesia so that more jobs are created.

The products of Merdeka Maumere Disability Moringa Team can be ordered by telephone number 081338859610 or you can come directly to the production site at Paris Homestay Beach, Jalan Nairoa, Kangae District, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province.

 Bureau of Public Relations

 Ministry of Social Affairs