TELUK WONDAMA, JurnalPost.com — Overcast weather and thick haze blanketing the village did not dampen the spirits of micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners and local youth in Werianggi Village, Nikiwar District, Teluk Wondama Regency, West Papua, as they participated in training for developing processed nutmeg products.
Held at the YPK Elementary School in Werianggi Village, the 15 team of the University of Indonesia (UI) Patriot Expedition continued their community empowerment series, focusing on the downstream processing of local nutmeg.
Following previous training on financial management through Workshop 1, the team proceeded with two additional sessions: Workshop 2: Strengthening Visual Branding and Product Standardization and Workshop 3: Product Photography and Digital Marketing, which were held in early October 2026.
Both activities aimed to increase the competitiveness of Werianggi-Werabur's processed nutmeg products by establishing strong brand identities, attractive packaging, and broader marketing opportunities.
In Workshop 2, participants—predominantly women from the Ayawata Nikiwar MSMEs—received guidance on the importance of brand identity and product packaging standardization.
Participants practiced creating logos, defining visual identities, and designing packaging for key nutmeg-based products, such as nutmeg candy, nutmeg syrup, and nutmeg jam.
Through this training, products that were previously marketed with simple packaging are expected to evolve into branded goods that are more easily recognized by consumers.
Building on the product identity efforts, the program continued with Workshop 3, which focused on product photography and digital marketing skills.
In this session, participants were trained in mobile phone photography. The material covered lighting techniques, camera angles, product styling, and basic photo editing.
These skills are intended to help MSME owners produce more appealing product photos for use in promotional materials on social media and e-commerce platforms.
The leader of the 15 Patriot Expedition team, Karin Amelia Safitri, emphasized that strengthening branding and visual quality is a crucial step for local nutmeg products to compete in wider markets.
"We do not want the mama-mama's products to taste good but lose out in presentation. Through these two workshops, we ensure that Werianggi-Werabur nutmeg has a new, captivating face. From unbranded to branded, from dark photos to images that attract buyers. This is the primary capital before we bring them into supermarkets in Wasior and Manokwari," said Karin.
According to her, improving product quality is not just about taste, but also about how the product is packaged, introduced, and marketed to potential consumers.
Therefore, the branding and photography training is expected to serve as a foundation for the Ayawata Nikiwar MSMEs to expand the reach of their processed nutmeg products.
In its implementation, the 15 Patriot Expedition team involved members from various universities: Muhammad Ulummudin, Sal Bintang Alwasi, and Dani Bintang Aprilyanto from the University of Indonesia (UI), Muhammad Abi Rafdi from the University of North Sumatra (USU), and Muhammad Rifki Arief from Sriwijaya University (UNSRI).
This cross-university collaboration is part of an effort to support the community in developing local economic potential by increasing the capacity of business owners.
This program also aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.
Through the strengthening of brand identity, improved marketing skills, and product standardization, this activity is expected to support the sustainable development of local MSMEs.
Furthermore, the 15 Patriot Expedition team emphasized the importance of program sustainability after the training series concludes.
MSME owners are expected to be able to apply the skills they have acquired independently, from managing brand identity and producing product photos to utilizing digital media to reach consumers.
"The hope is that after this, the mama-mama will be independent. They will have their own brands, be able to photograph their own products, and be ready to sell online. So the program doesn't just end with the training," concluded Karin.
Through these activities, the potential of Werianggi-Werabur nutmeg is expected to grow beyond a local commodity, becoming a value-added processed product with competitiveness that opens new economic opportunities for the local community.
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