THE ROLE OF WOMEN'S COFFEE COOPERATIVES (KOKOWA) TOWARD THE WELFARE OF COFFEE FARMERS IN BUKIT DISTRICT, BENER MERIAH REGENCY

The existence of cooperatives in coffee production, centers is expected to support and help the economy of coffee farmers. One of the best coffee producing areas in Indonesia is Aceh Province, this is proven because coffee produced in Aceh has been exported to various countries such as Europe. America and countries in Asia. Aceh coffee which is better known internationally is the type of Gayo Arabica coffee because it has a distinctive aroma and taste. (Tambarta, 2016) The name Gayo Arabica coffee arises because the best-tasting Arabica coffee comes from the Gayo highlands, namely Central Aceh and Bener Meriah districts.This research uses descriptive quantitative research methods. Quantitative descriptive is a method that describes the research topic with variables that can be measured quantitatively (Sugiyono, 2011). The research was conducted at the Women's Coffee Cooperative (KOKOWA) Bener Meriah Regency. This location was determined intentionally or purposively because the KOKOWA Cooperative is the only cooperative whose members are all housewives and coffee farmers (having dual roles). The method used in analyzing the data is descriptive qualitative analysis using a Likert scale instrument , which describes several question items arranged in a questionnaire and each question is given a score equal to the respondent's choice. Likert scale is a scale used to measure attitudes, opinions and perceptions of a group of people about social events or phenomena. This research produces TKT 1 with output targets in the form of (1) scientific publications in international research journals with accepted status , (2) HKI research reports with granted status , (3) publication of activities in print or online media.

. Graph of Coffee Area in Aceh Province for the Last Five Years The graph above shows that there are eight districts that are centers of coffee production in Aceh Province. Central Aceh and Bener Meriah districts are production centers with the largest land area among the six districts (BPS Aceh Tengah, 2020). The area of coffee plantations in Bener Meriah Regency in 2018 was 46.27 ha with a production of 30,408 tons, in 2019 it was 46,273 ha with a production of 29,101 tons and in 2020 it was 46.27 ha with a production reaching 29,000 tons. With the proportion of 90 % Arabica coffee land area and 10 % robusta coffee (BPS Bener Meriah).
Cooperatives are institutions that can help and facilitate farmers in cultivating coffee plants. By providing services, providing production facilities and infrastructure, providing fertilizer, seeds and accommodating the harvest. Cooperatives build and develop the economic potential and capabilities of members in particular to improve social and economic welfare. The economic potential and capabilities of cooperative members in general are relatively small. Through cooperatives, it is hoped that three small economic potentials and capabilities can be gathered in a single unit so that they can form a larger force. The Women's Coffee Cooperative is one of the cooperatives engaged in coffee commodities in Bukit Bener Meriah Regency which has 372 members based on organic farming. This cooperative is indeed not a cooperative with the largest number of members, but this cooperative has its own uniqueness where all members are women. This is the main point that attracts researchers to choose a research location in this cooperative. Researchers want to see if there is a significant impact from the role of women's coffee cooperatives on their members who are housewives and coffee farmers in Bener Meriah Regency.

2.RESEARCH METHODS
This research uses descriptive quantitative research methods. Quantitative descriptive is a method that describes the research topic with variables that can be measured quantitatively (Sugiyono, 2011).
The research was conducted at the Women's Coffee Cooperative (KOKOWA) Bener Meriah Regency. This location was determined intentionally or purposively because the KOKOWA Cooperative is the only cooperative whose members are all housewives and coffee farmers (having dual roles). This cooperative is engaged in the coffee commodity and the working area of the cooperative is the Bener Meriah Regency which is an area where the majority of the people work as coffee farmers. The object of this research is the farmer who joins the KOKOWA cooperative. The scope of this research is only to find out the role of cooperatives on the welfare of the assisted coffee farmers in the KOKOWA Cooperative, Bener Meriah Regency.
This study uses primary data and secondary data. Primary data is data obtained from direct observation to the field (observation), and distributing questionnaires that is carried out by interviewing coffee farmers who join the KOKOWA Cooperative. While secondary data is data obtained from relevant literatures such as literature studies, internet, books, research journals, Village Offices, and related agencies. The population of this research is coffee farmers who join the KOKOWA Cooperative. Sampling in this study using a simple random method (Simple Random Sampling) because the characteristics of farmers are homogeneous. Then, the determination of the sample in the study used the Slovin formula (Silalahi, 2015), with the following formula: Information : n = sample size, N = population size, e2 = 15%, so we get: n = 39 Respondents How to determine the number of samples per village is done by using the following formula: Information : ni = number of samples in each village, n = total number of samples, Ni = total population in each village, N = total population.
The method used in analyzing the data is descriptive qualitative analysis using a Likert scale instrument, which describes several question items arranged in a questionnaire and each question is given a score equal to the respondent's choice. Likert scale is a scale used to measure attitudes, opinions and perceptions of a group of people about social events or phenomena. By using the Likert scale, the dimensions are translated into variables of suitability for the role of cooperatives as service providers, training, providers of production facilities, post-harvest processing and marketing of harvested products. The scale used to measure the role of cooperatives on the welfare of coffee farmers is 4 criteria on the Likert scale with a score format and categories a) score 1. Strongly disagree, b) score 2. Disagree, c) score 3. Agree , d ) score 4. Strongly agree. Then the assessment of respondents' interpretation of the role of cooperatives on the welfare of coffee farmers in the KOKOWA Cooperative, Bener Meriah Regency is the % index value with the following formula (Natsir, 2013).
Index Value % = Total Score/Y x 100 To find out the location of the index value, first know the interval (distance) and percent interpretation by the method of finding the Percent Score Interval (I) as follows (Natsir, 2013) with the following conditions: 1. If the index value is in the 0% -25.99% interval, the level of the cooperative's role in the welfare of coffee farmers is very insignificant. 2. If the index value is in the interval of 26% -49.00 %, the level of the role of cooperatives on the welfare of coffee farmers is less important. 3. If the index value is in the 50%-74.99% interval, the level of the cooperative's role in the welfare of coffee farmers plays a role. 4. If the index value is in the 75%-100% interval, the role of cooperatives in the welfare of coffee farmers is very important.

3.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Cooperatives are business entities that have members, each member has their respective duties and responsibilities. Each member has the same rights in every decision taken because it is based on deliberation and consensus. The KOKOWA Cooperative is the only women's cooperative in Southeast Asia that is included in the international women's coffee farmer organization based in Peru, South America, namely the Organic Product Trading Company (OPTCO) Cafe Femenino. The cooperative produces 450,000 tons of coffee per year.
The KOKOWA Cooperative has 372 members, all of whom are women farmers. Cooperatives have implemented several programs that will be planned at the Annual Members Meeting (RAT). This meeting was attended by members of the cooperative which aims to accommodate the aspirations of farmer members and programs that are to improve farmers' welfare and the sustainability of coffee farming, quality improvement, education for farmers and environmental sustainability. Apart from coaching and empowering farmers through learning and training for farmers, the KOKOWA Cooperative routinely conducts Corp Surveys to find out the estimated amount of coffee production for the next harvest period. Then the Cooperative before the audit will carry out land convection activities that aim to determine the boundaries of the coffee plantations of farmers.
The existence of cooperatives plays an important role for every member who runs his business, in its existence, the KOKOWA Cooperative plays an important role in efforts to improve the welfare of each member. The role of the KOKOWA Cooperative in its implementation in this study is divided into several parts, namely the role of cooperatives as providers of production facilities, the role of cooperatives in providing training, the role of cooperatives as service providers, the role of post-harvest processing cooperatives, to the role of harvest marketing cooperatives.
The index value and category of the role of the KOKOWA Cooperative on the welfare of fostered farmers in Bukit District, Bener Meriah Regency can be seen from the table below: Based on the table above, the average number of the KOKOWA Cooperative's role index on the welfare of its fostered farmers is classified in the very role category, namely 84.08 % . The following is an explanation of the role of the KOKOWA cooperative on the welfare of its fostered coffee farmers as seen from each role.
The role of cooperatives in providing services can be seen from the respondents' answers through questions: (1) cooperatives provide information and assistance that is quite helpful in efforts to increase farmers' coffee production, (2) cooperatives provide services in the form of providing opportunities for women farmers to express opinions in discussion forums both in terms of meetings or in informal activities, (3) cooperatives provide services in the form of providing PAUD which functions as daycare for women farmers so that they can work freely in coffee plantations, (4) cooperatives provide services by providing capital loans to women farmers. The following is a table of the number of respondents' answers based on the Liketr score related to questions regarding the role of cooperatives in providing services . From the table above, it can be seen that the farmers' answers through the questionnaire given were the most farmers answered on a score of 4 with the answer criteria, namely strongly agree. Then in Table 4.1, it can be seen that the responses of respondent farmers about the role of cooperatives in providing services as a whole are in the role category, which is at an index score of 89.58%, meaning that the cooperative has a very large role in efforts to improve the welfare of women farmers in Bukit District.
Cooperatives provide the best service to their members so that cooperative members can run their farming well. The cooperative accommodates various farmer complaints and problems faced by farmers when running their coffee farming and helps provide solutions to the problems faced. The KOKOWA Cooperative provides opportunities for women farmers to express their opinions in meetings and other informal forums. The female farmer in Bukit Sub-district was previously a member of the Permata Gayo Cooperative located in Bukit District. These women farmers become members of their family members such as husbands, fathers-in-law and brothersin-law. During the meeting and discussion forum activities, the opportunity for women farmers to express their opinions was considered very minimal. This is because female farmers feel reluctant and afraid to express their opinion in front of their husbands, father-in-law or brothers who are also members of the cooperative. This is what underlies the formation of the KOKOWA Cooperative in Bukit District. The existence of this cooperative provides an opportunity for women farmers to express their opinions freely because all members in the cooperative are women.
The cooperative also provides services in the form of providing PAUD which functions as a daycare for the children of female farmers so that they can work freely in the coffee plantations. The women farmers can carry out activities in the coffee garden while their children can freely learn while playing in the PAUD provided by the KOKOWA cooperative.
Each cooperative assisted village has a delegation who acts as an intermediary by the cooperative to farmers. Delegates to each village will be given savings and loan capital which can later be managed in each of their fostered villages with certain conditions.
The role of cooperatives in providing production facilities can be seen through the answers to the questions: (1) cooperatives provide superior seeds to farmers, (2) cooperatives provide fertilizer as a means of supporting production, (3) cooperatives provide ginger seeds as a means of maximizing land, (4) cooperatives provide hoes for land preparation tools, (5) cooperatives provide scissors as pruning tools, (6) cooperatives provide lawn mowers to farmers, (7) cooperatives provide baskets as coffee collection tools. The following is a table of the number of respondents' answers based on Likert scores related to questions regarding the role of cooperatives in providing production facilities.

Figure 2. Tabulation Results of the Role of Cooperatives in Provision of Production Facilities
From the picture above, it can be seen that the response of the farmers assisted by the cooperative to the role of the KOKOWA Cooperative in providing production facilities, the majority answered agree. Then in 4.1, it can be seen the response of respondent farmers about the role of cooperatives in the provision of production facilities as a whole, which is in the category of very important because it is at an index score of 78.66% which means that the cooperative has a major role in efforts to increase farmer production and farmer welfare.
One of the missions and programs of the KOKOWA Cooperative is to increase the amount of production and quality of its member coffee farms by providing production facilities to member coffee farmers. Production facilities assistance provided by the cooperative includes: superior seeds in the form of coffee seeds that are 3-6 months old in polybags which will later be transferred to the land, the cooperative provides fertilizer as a means of supporting production, the fertilizer provided is organic fertilizer. The cooperative provides ginger seeds as intercropping plants to its fostered coffee farmers, the ginger seeds given are red ginger seeds. The reason for providing ginger seeds as an intercropping plant is that apart from having economic value and can be an additional income for farmers, intercropping plants such as ginger do not interfere with coffee plants and even ginger plants can loosen the soil around coffee plantations. The KOKOWA Cooperative also provides tools as a means of production such as scissors that can be used as pruners of coffee branches that are no longer needed and can inhibit the growth of coffee cherries, hoes as land processing tools, lawn mowers which are given to each representative from the village who later can used by each member farmer in turn to clear the land of grass and weeds that grow around the coffee plants as well as coffee baskets that can be used by farmers to accommodate coffee harvests.
The KOKOWA Cooperative continues to strive to provide the production facilities and equipment needed by farmers in carrying out their farming activities. The provision of this assistance was carried out by the cooperative as requested by the farmer members submitted by the delegation to the cooperative. The provision of production facilities is distributed equally to all members of the cooperative where the provision of production facilities is not included in the cost component because it is distributed free of charge.
The role of cooperatives in providing training can be seen from the respondents answers through questions: (1) cooperatives provide training on how to seed coffee beans until they are ready for planting, (2) cooperatives provide training on ready to plant planting, (3) cooperatives provide training on how to fertilize coffee, (4) cooperatives provide training on how to eradicate pests, (5) cooperatives provide training on coffee pruning, (6) cooperatives provide training on making organic fertilizers, (7) cooperatives provide training on how to plant protective trees, (8) cooperatives provide training to farmers on planting tumpeng sari on the land, (9) the cooperative provides training on information on how to keep coffee beans in good condition, (10) the cooperative provides training on how to differentiate the treatment of coffee beans according to the type of variety, (11) during joining the cooperative also provides knowledge/ post-harvest skills such as milling processes, (12) cooperatives provide trainers about cooperating well. The following is a table of the number of respondents' answers based on Likert scores related to questions regarding the role of cooperatives in providing training.

Figure 3. Tabulated Results of the Role of Cooperatives in Providing Training
From the picture above, it can be seen that the farmers' answers through the questionnaire given on average, the farmers answered on a score of 3 and 4, namely agree and strongly agree.
Then in table 4.1, it can be seen that the responses of respondent farmers about the role of cooperatives in providing training as a whole are in the very role category, which is at an index

THE ROLE OF WOMEN'S COFFEE COOPERATIVES (KOKOWA) TOWARD THE WELFARE OF COFFEE FARMERS IN BUKIT DISTRICT, BENER MERIAH REGENCY Emmia Tambarta Kembaren, Hafni Zahara, Ade Firmansyah Tanjung, Erika Safira, Tri Arini Utami
score of 87.75%, which means that the cooperative has a major role in efforts to increase farmer production and farmer welfare.
Kopersi KOKOWA in an effort to support the increase in farm production, its members carry out an empowerment program through a learning process by providing training and assistance for farmers who carry out coffee farming activities. This empowerment activity for member farmers is carried out directly by the cooperative, through activities to deliver materials and practice directly in the field that has been scheduled. As for the provider or the location of the meeting, it is carried out by member farmers. For the process of submitting the time for the activities of the cooperative, the cooperative conveys to the farmer representatives then the representatives convey to all members of the cooperative. This farmer empowerment activity through learning, training and mentoring has been carried out by the cooperative since the end of 2018 until now.
The role of post-harvest processing cooperatives can be seen from the respondents answers to the questions: (1) cooperatives help farmers in providing machines to carry out the milling process, (2) cooperatives help farmers in the process of checking the water content of coffee beans, (3) cooperatives help farmers check quality coffee using existing equipment in cooperatives, (4) cooperatives process coffee by grouping coffee based on its types. The following is a table of the number of respondents' answers based on the likert score related to questions regarding the role of cooperatives in post harvest processing. From the picture above, it can be seen that the farmers answers through the questionnaire given were the most farmers answered at a score of 3 with the answer criteria, namely agree. Then, in table 4.1, it can be seen that the responses of respondent farmers about the role of post-harvest processing cooperatives as a whole are in the role category, which is at an index score of 80.95%, which means that the cooperative has a major role in efforts to increase farmer production and farmer welfare.
Through the answers of farmer respondents, it can be seen that cooperatives have a big role in the post-harvest process. The cooperative provides coffee grinders to carry out the post-harvest process of coffee from its members. The grinding and drying processes are usually carried out by collectors appointed by the cooperative from each village. Furthermore, the farmer explained that the cooperative provides information through training and assists farmers in the process of checking the water content with the tools in the cooperative and sorting the coffee beans so that the quality of the coffee produced is good so that it can be accepted by the market at an appropriate price. After the milling process, drying, checking the moisture content, sorting the cooperative also carries out harvesting activities, namely classifying coffee by type before being marketed.

Q STS (1) TS (2) S (3) SS (4)
The role of post-harvest processing cooperatives can be seen from the respondents answers to the questions: (1) cooperatives accommodate coffee harvests cultivated by members of their farmers, (2) cooperatives accommodate coffee harvests and provide higher selling prices, (3) cooperatives act as intermediaries/ distributor of farmers coffee.

Figure 5. Tabulated Results of the Role of Cooperatives in Product Marketing Activities
From the picture above, it can be seen that the farmers answers through the questionnaire given were the most farmers answered at a score of 3 with the answer criteria, namely agree. The role of cooperatives as marketing of crops is in the very important category, which is at an index of 84.37% from table 4.1, which means that cooperatives have a major role in efforts to increase farmer production and farmer welfare.
The KOKOWA Cooperative plays a role in the welfare of coffee farmers who join as members by providing marketing for their harvest, the cooperative accommodates the coffee harvested by its members which are sold through collectors in each village and farmers may also sell their own harvests to the cooperative without going through a collector. However, farmers usually prefer to sell their coffee to village collectors who have been appointed by the cooperative as the holding representative of the cooperative due to closer and easier access or distance.
The results of interviews with respondents from farmers assisted by cooperatives stated that cooperatives do not always accept coffee harvests by providing a higher selling price. However, the cooperative is trying to stabilize the price of coffee by not providing a price lower than the price of the usual collectors, because if the price of coffee fluctuates and tends to be cheap, the collector will provide a much cheaper price than the normal price of coffee.
The KOKOWA Cooperative itself is also a distributor and intermediary of the coffee harvests of its fostered farmers by continuing to collaborate with large companies and reservoirs in the region and outside the region to ensure the market for the coffee harvested by the farmers they foster. In addition, support is also obtained from exporters and buyers, which can be seen from their interactions because it is not only limited to buying and selling business but more than that, exporters and buyers maintain connectivity to the starting point of the coffee source. They also often provide assistance in the form of training and education for cooperative members. The certification body helps KOKOWA a lot, so that product quality and the quality of member human resources are more maintained and sustainable. The assistance includes training, discussion forums, work visits and others. The activities they do directly also add to the enthusiasm of each member.
The outputs in this research are as follows :.

IPR Copyright
Draft Still in Draft The activities carried out by the KOKOWA cooperative itself are generally technical activities that play an important role in the welfare of their fostered coffee farmers, such as providing motivation to farmers and coaching so that farmers can know how to cultivate good coffee and produce quality coffee. The Women's Coffee Cooperative always provides counseling, such as: better seed planting methods, better fertilization methods, pruning methods, planting tree protection methods to the coffee harvesting process. The Women's Coffee Cooperative also provides production facilities and infrastructure such as superior seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural tools to assist farmers in doing farming and to support increased coffee production for their fostered farmers. Apart from coffee cultivation activities, the cooperative also handles individual problems such as listening to the complaints of cooperative members regarding their personal problems and providing advice according to the needs of members. Although the coffee plant is a leading commodity and contributes greatly to regional income as well as to farmers in Bener Meriah Regency, coffee production is still unstable and coffee prices often fluctuate. This is what makes researchers interested in seeing the role of the KOKOWA cooperative on the welfare of fostered farmers in Bener Meriah Regency.

5.CONCLUSION
Overall the role of the KOKOWA Cooperative on the welfare of its fostered farmers is classified in the very role category with a value of 84.08 % . In particular the role of cooperatives in providing services, training and roles in product marketing has a very large role in the welfare of the farmers assisted by the KOKOWA cooperative, while the role of providing production facilities and the role in post-harvest processing has proven to play a role in the welfare of the farmers assisted by the KOKOWA cooperative.