Publications

The economic gap in Musi Banyuasin Regency happens because women always become the minority target group for economic programs instituted by the government or private enterprise in local CSR programs. In fact, women are indispensable for advancing development and reducing poverty. Therefore, overcoming the economic gap for women of Musi Banyuasin Regency has become a priority to PT MEDCO E&P RIMAU to make women stand equally with men in the society. Creating a program that includes herbs is the main target of MEDCO in minimizing the economic gap between women and men through community development program. There have been several meetings and training sessions to develop knowledge about herbs. Here, women are empowered to increase their earnings by exploiting herbs in their living area. They are taught not only to notice the herbs but also to understand the benefits and to process the herbs into sellable products. Furtheremore,the local government shows its supports by providing land for herbal cultivation. As a result, women of Musi Banyuasin Regency have successfully increased their earnings and created the first women cooperative in Musi Banyuasin Regency named Koperasi Herbal Bersatu. Keywords: Women, Community Development, Economic Gap