Rural Economies, Revitalised

Friday, May 17, 2019

Are you a city dweller who yearns for the quiet simplicity of rural life?. you are not alone as an increasing number of Asean professionals are bucking the rural-urban migration trend by moving back to their villages. In the process, they are also creating new opportunities.

One such individual is Singih Kartono, an Indonesian designer who returned to his hometown of temanggung in Central Java and started his Creative Movement for Village Revitalisation to reconceptualise the village economy. the realisation of his vision is Pasar Papringan (pasarpapringan) a fortnightly food and crafts market in the hamlet of Ngadisprono.
what makes this market unique is its circular economy approach to the curation of wares, engagement of residents and waste management. More than a shopping experience, market-goesrs become part of a movements to revive local culinary traditions, rediscover th joys of fresh produce and experience rural life through homestays. after just over a year, th market involves almost all 110 households in Ngadiprono, raising household incomes by between 30 and 50 per cent. Unsurprisingly, pasar papringan attracts thousands of visitors from around Indonesia and has inspired similar markets from Sumatra to Sulawesi. With 76, 000 villages across Indonesia, replication of this model has real potential of changing the landscape of community-based tourism. So, if you have a dream of home, you are in good company. follow your dream, and you may find yourself breathing ne life into old communities.