This reseach was carried out in Purbalingga Wetan village, Purbalingga subdistrict, Purbalingga regency from March to August 2015. This research aimed to
know the social economy factors influencing the continuity of coconut shell
handcraft business in Purbalingga Wetan village, Purbalingga sub-district,
Purbalingga regency. The method was case study. The data used in this research
were in a form of primary and secondary data. The samples were chosen using
census technique.
From the research, it was known that the farmers gathered in a farmer group
Manunggal Karya. Most of the craftsmen have run the coconut shell handcraft
business for more than 10 years. The craftsmen involved the member of their
family in the production process as workers. Some products yielded from the
coconut shell handcraft business were ladle, mortar and pestle, rice scoop, and
other handcraft. Ladle was the product that the market demand always increased.
The social factors influencing the continuity of the handcraft business of coconut
shell were: the farmers’ availability to provide the raw materials, the relationship
with outside party, the support from local government and family, the inheritance
of the skill from the older generation, ability to get the trust, and the ability of the
craftsment to make the coconut shell into handcrafts. The economic factors
influenching the continuity of the handcraft business were: the price fixing of the
handcraft (craftsmen, seller, craftsmen and seller), the craftsmen ability to get
income and profit, the reliance on the handcraft making by the craftsmen as a
main job, the direct and indirect selling, the demand of the handcrafts that always
increased. The ways the craftsmen survive their business were by adopting an
affective technology, making an innovation of product, making a craftsmen group
and promoting massively. From the result of this research it was suggested that
the craftsmen use one gate for selling throught farmer group Manunggal Karya,
the members get involved in the development of the group, the group give training
to make handcrafts for the younger generation.