EMPOWERMENT OF COASTAL WOMEN IN MEDAN CITY IN SUSTAINABLE NIPAH (NYPA FRUTICANS) MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The city of Medan has coastal areas located in three districts, one of which is Medan Marelan District. These coastal areas are abundant with Nypa palm (Nypa fruticans) plants, which offer numerous benefits and hold great potential as a source of income for the local community. However, this potential has not been optimally utilized, despite the fact that the fishermen's families in this area are generally classified as poor. This research was conducted in Paya Pasir Village, Medan Marelan District, specifically in the fishermen's settlement of Danau Siombak, which is home to approximately 70 fishing families. The research subjects are the wives of these fishermen. They do not have permanent jobs and lack sufficient knowledge and skills to utilize the Nypa palm. The purpose of this study is to examine the current utilization of the Nypa palm as a source of income and efforts to empower women in the sustainable management of this plant. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach, involving field surveys and document studies. The research findings reveal that: a) Women in the Danau Siombak village currently utilize Nypa palm primarily for extracting midrib sticks from its young leaves, and this activity is not conducted regularly but rather based on orders from Nypa stick exporters, making income from Nypa palm only incidental. b) Efforts to empower women in the sustainable management of Nypa palm can be achieved by processing it into various food products and other items, maximizing its utilization while reducing waste. This requires training, as well as support in the form of equipment and capital, from various parties, including the government, community organizations, companies, and higher education institutions.