Empowering Farmers’ Wives Through Economic Learning and Creative Economy Practices in Mangilu Village

Abstract

This study investigates how farmers’ wives participate in creative economy activities through economic learning in Mangilu Village, Pangkep Regency, Indonesia. The issue is important because agrarian households often depend on seasonal income, while women’s productive roles in household-based businesses are frequently under-recognised. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected from farmers’ wives who operated local culinary microbusinesses, village officials, empowerment-program facilitators, and community leaders. Purposive sampling was applied to select informants with direct experience in the empowerment process. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document study, and were validated through source triangulation, technique triangulation, member checking, and audit trail. Thematic analysis followed data condensation, data display, and conclusion verification. The findings show that farmers’ wives participated across the entire business chain, including production, packaging, pricing, digital promotion, customer service, and basic financial management. Empowerment became more effective when technical training was combined with field mentoring, financial literacy, business management, and practical use of social media. The programme strengthened household income, family economic resilience, women’s bargaining position, confidence, and the preservation of traditional culinary knowledge. The study proposes a learning-business-culture model for sustaining rural women’s creative economy initiatives.