COUNSELING ON INCREASING RICE-ADDED VALUE TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY ECONOMY IN PUNGGUR DISTRICT, CENTRAL LAMPUNG REGENCY

Abstract

Punggur District, Central Lampung is one of the largest rice-producing areas in Lampung Province. However, this does not guarantee that the people's economy will be very good. The instability of rice prices, especially during the main harvest, causes farmers to suffer losses. One of the efforts that can be done to improve the community's economy is to increase the added value of rice through product innovation. This community service was aimed to increase the knowledge of rice farmers in increasing the added value of rice for increasing the economy in Punggur District, Central Lampung. Counseling is used as a method to implement a community development program on rice farmers followed by the practice of making instant rice. The results of the activities showed that participants’ knowledge about the added value of products through product innovation increased. This shows that participants understand the material provided, this is also shown from the response to questions and the desire of rice farmers to put this knowledge into practice.