From Food Heritage to Resilience: The Woman Behind Pandan’s Genepo

Ibu Hasviroh •

PALI - In a traditional kitchen in Pandan Village, the delicious of steamed rice flour drifts gently through the air. At the centre of this community industry stands a woman whose perseverance has transformed product with traditional value into modern market. Ibu Hasviroh, a 40 year old primary school teacher, Genepo homemaker, and active member of the village PKK group. Genepo is far more than a traditional rice cracker, it is resilience and inheritance woven into every carefully shaped piece for product. She first learned to make Genepo from her parents when her family faced economic hardship. What began as a necessity producing crackers for household consumption gradually evolved into a home-based enterprise. Currently, Genepo become a sought-after delicacy for visitors seeking authentic local souvenirs. Unlike mass-produced snacks manufactured by machines, Genepo remains entirely handmade. The process demands patience and precision. Locally harvested rice from Pandan Village is milled into flour, seasoned meticulously, moulded into thin floral patterns by hand, steamed, and finally sun-dried under the open sky. “The uniqueness and heritage cannot be replicated by machines. That is why it holds value” she explains. In every grain of rice lies the toil of local farmers. Nothing is wasted. Each step in the production process embodies respect towards tradition, community, and sustenance itself. The journey has not been without adversity. Like many small-scale entrepreneurs, Ibu Hasviroh has faced financial losses, production failures, and a shortage of skilled workers capable of mastering the intricate manual technique. Crafting Genepo requires more than basic culinary skill. It needs endurance, delicacy, and unwavering attention to detail. Despite these obstacles, she persists. Along with time, what started as a personal endeavour has grown into a collective movement. Neighbours now assist in drying, packaging, and marketing the product. Genepo has become a symbol of community empowerment, providing livelihood for housewives and strengthening economic resilience within the village. The product is marketed both offline and through digital platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, bridging tradition with modern technology. PROKLIM Project by UNOPS and MoE with PT. Sucofindo as implementing partner has conducted trainings for business (including Business Model Canva and Digital Marketing), as well as workshops to support this Genepo’s product. Her aspiration is clear “The food heritage, Genepo should become the culinary icon of Pandan Village, while enhancing household incomes”. From a food heritage emerges not merely a crispy delicacy, but a narrative of determination, cultural pride, and hope. Through steady hands shaping rice flour into Genepo proving that tradition is not a relic of the past, but a bridge to the future.

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