Rosidah's Red Sugar Business Scales Up with BRI KUR Loans

Rosidah, a 50‑year‑old entrepreneur from the village of Pragaan Laok in Sumenep, Madura, began producing traditional red sugar (gula merah) in 2006 using sap from the siwalan palm. For nearly two decades she operated from a modest kitchen, facing limited equipment and scarce capital. In 2016 she obtained her first Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) loan from the BRI Pragaan branch, attracted by its quick processing, low interest and lack of collateral. She said, “Saya sudah lama jadi nasabah BRI, tapi baru tahun 2016 itu memberanikan diri mengajukan pinjaman KUR. Prosesnya cepat dan tim dari BRI sangat responsif. Saya memilih KUR karena selain bunganya rendah juga tidak ada agunan.”

The loan enabled her to secure raw‑material supplies and upgrade production facilities, raising daily output from about 200 kg to roughly 500 kg. After repaying the first loan, BRI extended a second Rp50 million loan, and in 2024 provided an even larger financing package as her business continued to grow. Rosidah now employs six workers, purchases raw material from local farmers, and sells her red sugar across Madura’s districts, including Pamekasan, Sampang, and Bangkalan. She noted, “Alhamdulillah seiring berjalannya waktu, kualitas gula merah buatan saya mulai dilirik konsumen. Permintaan mulai berdatangan.”