Agricultural waste is a persistent issue, with large volumes of food byproducts often being discarded rather than reused. In Taringgul Tonggoh Village, Purwakarta, Indonesia, broken pieces of biofortified zinc rice were traditionally considered valueless—used solely as animal feed. However, for 38-year-old Ai Siti Fatimah, Chairwoman of the Sumber Rezeki Women’s Farmer Group (KWT Sumber Rezeki), this “waste” represented a hidden opportunity.

Driven by a passion to reduce food waste and improve community nutrition, Fatimah began experimenting with zinc rice flour. What started as a personal initiative quickly gained traction when her first creation, the traditional snack kue seroja, became a hit with her family and neighbors. Sensing potential, she rallied her fellow KWT members to explore other delicacies using zinc rice flour. Together, they developed a variety of nutritious, locally inspired treats.

Their innovative use of biofortified rice soon caught the attention of a visiting team from HarvestPlus Solutions, Bappenas, and the Ministry of Agriculture during a local harvest of the zinc-rich Inpari Nutrizinc rice. Impressed by the taste, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of the group, the team encouraged KWT Sumber Rezeki to scale up their efforts and explore new markets.

Motivated by this support, the group began participating in district and national exhibitions, proudly showcasing their zinc rice-based products. However, they faced major challenges in growing their enterprise—most notably a lack of professional-grade equipment and marketing tools. To address these barriers, HarvestPlus Solutions partnered with the University of Illinois to provide digital marketing training, empowering KWT members with new skills to promote their brand online. Additionally, HarvestPlus Solutions facilitated the provision of essential equipment, including: 

• flour milling machines to improve efficiency and product consistency 
• vacuum packaging machines to extend shelf life and enhance product appeal
• upgraded packaging designs to boost visibility and competitiveness in the market

These interventions proved transformative. With improved resources and technical skills, KWT Sumber Rezeki expanded their product line to include both zinc rice flour and an array of ready-to-eat snacks like kue seroja, kue ali, and awuk-awuk. As a result, members began earning significantly higher incomes—many for the first time gaining financial independence.

Today, KWT Sumber Rezeki stands as a vibrant example of how biofortification can fuel entrepreneurship and community-driven development. What was once discarded as waste is now the foundation of a thriving small business that is creating jobs, reducing vulnerability, and lifting families out of poverty.

Looking ahead, the group is working toward securing distribution permits to access wider markets and establish long-term, sustainable livelihoods—not just for their members, but for the broader village community. Their journey illustrates the powerful ripple effect that biofortified crops can have—not only in improving nutrition but in transforming lives through income generation and inclusive entrepreneurship.