The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), through the Student Organization Capacity Strengthening Program (PPKO) of the Environmental Science Student Association (HIMA IPA Lingkungan), conducted a community empowerment program to strengthen the capacity of coffee micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Peron Village, a developing forest village located on the slopes of Mount Ungaran, Limbangan District, Kendal Regency. The program aimed to assist local entrepreneurs in obtaining the Home Industry Food Production Certificate (SPP-IRT), enabling locally produced coffee products to meet legal requirements while improving product quality and market competitiveness. The program was supervised by Amnan Haris, M.Ling., with the student team consisting of Ade Anggun Wana Putri, Umi Rahmawati, Bernov Lakhomi Pujangga Sakti, Karista Gadis Setiyanda, Maisya Rahmawati, Suci Wulandari, Ajmal Rozan, and Maria Nafraim Oktaviana.
The assistance program included needs assessment, socialization of SPP-IRT regulations, administrative training and mentoring for certification applications, food sanitation training, assistance in preparing administrative documents, product label improvement, and monitoring of business readiness. The program also involved experts from the Kendal Regency Office of Trade, Cooperatives, and MSMEs, who provided guidance on product packaging, branding, and marketing strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of local coffee products.
Through this initiative, FMIPA UNNES provides support for surrounding communities in establishing financially and socially sustainable businesses by offering education, training, mentoring, technical assistance, knowledge transfer, and access to experts and certification processes. These activities enhanced the capacity of MSME owners to understand business legality, food safety standards, administrative management, and business development strategies, enabling them to expand market access and improve community welfare.
In addition, FMIPA UNNES provides financial support to local communities through the PPKO program by facilitating the costs associated with business legalization assistance. This support includes mentoring services, training activities, preparation of administrative documents, and facilitation of the SPP-IRT certification process, reducing the financial burden on MSME owners and accelerating the development of legally recognized, competitive, and sustainable enterprises.
As a result of the program, the Sekar Group successfully obtained SPP-IRT certification for its ground coffee, roasted coffee, and cascara products. The certification has strengthened consumer confidence, expanded market opportunities, and enhanced the long-term sustainability of community-based agroforestry coffee businesses. The success of the initiative also received recognition through a visit by representatives of the Directorate General of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Belmawa) to the partner coffee production facility.
This program contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) by strengthening the economic capacity and income opportunities of rural MSMEs. It also supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through sustainable MSME development, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by improving product quality and business legality, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration among FMIPA UNNES, local government agencies, and community-based enterprises.
