Magic fun water hyacinth, So Business Value Million

Jakarta - Enceng hyacinth plant which is often regarded as a nuisance to farmers, not the case for Rafi Hartono, Geni owner Art. Through perseverance, water hyacinth is transformed into a creative product that can bring dollars into the coffers of his pocket.

Geni creative effort started by Rafi Art since 2004. The initial capital that he can be spelled out very small, which is Rp 45,000. This money he used to buy equipment drawings, eg, ruler, cutter, and a pencil.

Bright idea to utilize water hyacinth he discovered by accident. At that time he and his friends were playing in the swamp. In the swamp that he found the water hyacinth and then made a kind of toy cars bemo.

"After so toy cars, toy we put it on the roadside in the hope that there are people who are interested to see her. At that time, we do not know where to go to market this product," said Rafi to detikFinance last week on the show 'Entrepreneurial Bank Mandiri'.

Hope Rafi and his friend answered. One time comes someone who offered these cars. Some time later, he was visited by the Department of Fisheries, Hyderabad with the aim of helping the marketing and provision of operating funds.

Creative products offered by Geni Art include locomotive train that is sold at USD 375 thousand, car bemo USD 85 thousand, tissue boxes worth USD 35 thousand, and close the lamp USD $ 60 thousand.

In terms of marketing, Rafi reported no difficulty. He said make sure what products will sell well, because the creative homemade products in great demand by the buyer. Indeed, the major obstacle is the limited human resources business creative.

"If HR is actually a lot, but that it is difficult to find creative," he said.

Other constraints expressed by Rafi is to create a model or a new product for the business. During this time he created the latest models through their own creative ideas by conducting various experiments or through the internet.

Regarding capital, Rafi also do not worry, because now there are banks that can provide capital for his creative efforts. Banks called by Rafi is Bank Mandiri.

"Capital practically no problem. To borrow is not too difficult. Now there is a bank that believes in crafting water hyacinth in our place, so rather easily if you want to borrow," he added.

Regarding the supply of raw materials which usually complained of by entrepreneurs, Rafi does not question the issue. Raw and water hyacinth can he obtained easily, because at his residence adjacent to the swamp that there is indeed a lot of water hyacinth.

If once he search for his own water hyacinth, now he mobilized local communities to meet the needs of the water hyacinth. Usually he bought USD 3.500/kg water hyacinth or Rp 1,500 / kg dry to wet water hyacinth.

Can be used for water hyacinth, water hyacinth should be in dry conditions. If you want ecneng hyacinth shaped sheet, then peel the first water hyacinth for its contents discarded. After that, then dried in the sun.

The drying process usually takes 3 days. To remember the drying process is not to water hyacinth in contact with soil because it will cause mold. If it is so, then the water hyacinth can not be used anymore.

The contents of water hyacinth was also no less useful than the skin. The contents of water hyacinth that has been crushed and then mixed with glue was also useful to make a creative product.

After the slurry form and mixed with glue, such pulp prints as desired. One of the Art Geni products made from water hyacinth pulp content is closed kampu.

With creative ideas and best-selling buyer, can earn in a month Rafi turnover of about USD 8 million per month. Expenditure incurred for this business-is not too big. To meet consumer demand, in a month could Rafi consumes 150 kg of water hyacinth, 10 cans of glue (30 kg / tin), and 50 recycled paper.

Rafi hope for creative efforts growing water hyacinth and is expected to reduce the number of unemployed. Now, Rafi has its own showroom in his home. He hopes that someday the showroom can be used as a place to gather various handicrafts kretaif in place.

"I wish for my village became the center of crafts and water hyacinth can be known through out the country," he concluded.

If you have any creative ideas, come up with your ideas in the form of a product. If it is so, then you will gain the same success as Rafi Hartono, owner of Art Geni.

More info call:
Rafi Hartono
Sidosari, Rt 2.12 Kuwarasan
Kec. Cashew Kab. Semarang, Central Java
Email: geni_artcollections@yahoo.co.id

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