In order to support local businesses in Semarang and its surroundings, the Office of Cooperatives and MSMEs in Central Java Province often visits several MSMEs.

As they did last Thursday, 19 January 2023. They came to visit Bengok Craft which is in Kesongo Village, Tuntang District, Semarang Regency.

Taking place at Daringan Kesongo Culture, four people from the public relations division met with the Founder and Co-Founder of Bengok Craft, Firman Setyaji and Astaria Eka Santi.

On this visit they held a shooting together with Bengok Craft to make a documentary video about Bengok Craft. This video would later be published by the team as a means of promoting MSMEs on social media so that more and more people are aware and interested in adopting this high-value water hyacinth craft.

Prior to filming, the public relations team and the Bengok Craft team first opened the meeting while preparing technically for shooting a documentary video.

After that, they left Daringan Kesongo Culture to tour around Rawa Pening, to see the process of making water hyacinth crafts from the beginning to finish.

They visited around Rawa to start documenting the video, from the stunning situation of Rawa Pening, then saw the water hyacinths being harvested and placed in boats.

Then after that, the public relations team also recorded the condition of the water hyacinth drying that had been cleaned, some of which looked dry and ready to be taken for further processing.

They then also had the opportunity to visit the houses of the Bengok Craft artisans. It seemed they were making handicrafts from a hunk of dried water hyacinth. Part of the water hyacinth was flattened first using a traditional tool, similar to a rotating noodle maker, yet this results in the water hyacinth stems being flat. Later, artisans started weaving it. The results of this craft could be seen in totebags, cellphone cases, etc.

Apart from that, there was also a woven braid technique, by braiding dry water hyacinth it also produced unique creations, such as in making bracelets and slippers.

Others also use different techniques, such as knitting techniques, exactly the same when knitting fabrics. The results were similar to hats and slingbags.

The team from the Office of Cooperatives and UMKM in Central Java were also interested in exploring more deeply the uniqueness of making water hyacinth crafts, and even occasionally practicing it.

After shooting, they took a group photo with Firman and Astaria to capture the moments together.

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