BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – For the past few years, a preserved flower business has been currently popular within the society. Its opportunity is indeed promising since it has high values of price.
To empower and increase people’s income, especially for people who are retired, Research Team of Universitas Pasundan developed a method of preserving roses that could be commercialized.
This effort is part of the implementation of the National Competitive Community Partnership Program (Program Kemitraan Masyarakat, PKM) facilitated by funding from the Directorate of Research Technology and Community Service (Direktorat Riset Teknology and Pengabdian Masyarakat, DRTPM).
“We hold a training for production and commercialization of preserved rose, to the retired-ranged people in Kelurahan Sukapada, Cibeunying Kidul Sub-District, Bandung,” said the Head of Research Team who is as well teacher of Faculty of Engineering Unpas, Ir. Gatot Santoso, M.T, on Friday, 30 September 2022.
He was also assisted by his partner, Prof. Bambang Heru Purwanto and Magnaz Lestira Oktaroza, S.E., MM., explaining about the method of preserving the flower (rose) and simple financial report as well.
Already Owned a Patent License
Gatot said the method of preserving roses had been granted a patent (granted) from the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (Direktorat Jenderal Kekayaan Intelektual, DJKI) of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kementerian Hukum and HAM, Kemenkumham) with patent number IDS000004580.
In addition to the method of preserving roses, the research team is also proposing methods of preserving chrysanthemums and methods of preserving gerbera flowers to DJKI.
“Our results are disseminated to 18 people of retirement age in RW 10 Villa Asri and all of whom are members of the Villa Asri Hiking Community (VAHC),” he added.
The method of preserving roses is explained directly by the patent inventor. At first, the flowers were immersed in a solution of glycerin which was added with aquadest at a temperature between 30-40 degrees until buried in the drying media of sansibar sand and silica gel.
“Participants have the opportunity to practice directly with the media of 2-3 roses. Given that preservation takes 5-7 days, the results of the burial of flowers must be stored in containers that have been prepared and will be unloaded a week after the initial process,” he said.
During the process, there were possibilities of the preservation failed to grow perfect flower. He thinks that flower preservation cannot be done instantly, needs experiences and persistency to stick to the rule/procedure.
“To preserve a flower, it needs our patience and persistency. It is also important to pay attention to the details: such as putting/inserting the sansibar-sand drying media, silica gel and placing the flower in the tube,” he explained.
Earning Much Income
To make the preserved rose have a high-selling value, participants are free to exchange opinions to determine the packaging, either in the form of units or in flower arrangements. Participants are also provided with simple financial reporting training to support the business activities that will be carried out.
“Participants are very enthusiastic, even interested in making flower preservation: it is a positive activity to increase income, especially in the VAHC group where they are sheltered,” he said.
At the end of the training, the team gave challenge to the training participant to produce 500 perfect preserved flowers who are deserved to be sold, within a month.
The challenge was aimed to increase their confidence and making sure that they could preserve their roses. We hope this activity would be useful and generates additional sources of income in retirement,” he said. (Reta)**
