Strategi Muslimah Desa dalam Memperkasakan Ekonomi Keluarga Semasa COVID-19: Kajian di Pasar Borong Pasir Puteh, Kelantan

The Strategy of Rural Muslimah in Empowering Family Economy During COVID-19: A Study at Pasir Puteh Wholesale Market, Kelantan

Abstract

Pandemik COVID-19 yang lalu telah memberikan implikasi negatif ke atas kelancaran pembangunan ekonomi negara. Ini dapat dilihat dengan jelas seperti berlaku situasi penutupan syarikat-syarikat, kelembapan aktiviti-aktiviti perniagaan dan penguncupan peluang pekerjaan di pelbagai sektor. Menurut laporan yang dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia (2021), kadar pengangguran di negara kita telah melonjak kepada 4.9 peratus iaitu bersamaan 782.5 ribu orang pada Januari 2021. Antara kelompok yang turut terkesan dalam hal ini adalah golongan Muslimah seperti mereka yang berada di kawasan desa. Di samping berperanan sebagai seorang isteri, ibu atau anak, mereka juga harus bekerja bagi membantu suami menjana ekonomi keluarga. Antara pekerjaan yang sering didominasi mereka adalah aktiviti perniagaan. Oleh itu, kajian ini membincangkan strategi Muslimah desa dalam memperkasakan ekonomi keluarga semasa COVID-19. Lokasi kajian yang terlibat adalah Pasar Borong Pasir Puteh, Kelantan. Bagi memperolehi data dan maklumat, kajian ini menggunakan metode dokumentasi dan temu bual secara bersemuka dengan 10 orang peniaga Muslimah dan seorang pegawai Majlis Daerah Pasir Puteh yang dipilih sebagai informan secara rawak. Data-data yang diperolehi dianalisis menggunakan metode analisis kandungan secara induktif dan deduktif. Menariknya, hasil kajian mendapati bahawa para peniaga Muslimah desa sememangnya mampu merancakkan ekonomi keluarga semasa COVID-19 bahkan secara tidak langsung turut memperkasakan diri mereka melalui ilmu dan pengalaman. Namun beberapa penambahbaikan perlu dilakukan seperti mereka perlu menghadiri kursus berkaitan kepakaran perniagaan seperti berniaga melalui platform e-dagang serta mendapatkan skim bantuan perniagaan daripada kerajaan atau swasta.

The pandemic of COVID-19 has had negative implications on the smooth economic development of the country. This can be seen in the company closures situation, the slowdown in business activities and the downsize in employment opportunities in various sectors. According to a report released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (2021), the unemployment rate in our country has jumped to 4.9 percent, equivalent to 782.5 thousand people in January 2021. Among the groups who are affected in this regard are women such as those in rural areas. In addition to their role as wives, mothers, or children; they also must work to help their husbands to generate the family economy. The occupations that are often dominated by them are business activities. Hence, this paper discusses the strategy of rural women in empowering the family economy during COVID-19. The concerned study area is Pasir Puteh Wholesale Market, Kelantan. To acquire data and information, this study uses documentation methods and face-to-face interviews with ten women traders and an officer of Pasir Puteh District Council that were selected as informants by simple random sampling. The data obtained were analyzed by using inductive and deductive content analysis methods. The result of this study found that rural women traders can help to generate the family economy during COVID-19 and even indirectly empower themselves through knowledge and experience. However, some improvements need to be made such as they need to attend courses related to business expertise such as doing business through e-commerce platforms as well as getting business assistance schemes from the government or the private sector.