Title: The jamu system: linking small-scale enterprises, traditional knowledge and social empowerment?

Authors: Maria Costanza Torri

Addresses: Department of Social Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Canada

Abstract: Medicinal plants have been used extensively in numerous countries, Indonesia included, in the domain of traditional medicine and of natural product industry. Despite the topicality of this issue, few studies have focused on the commercial aspects of medicinal plants in local communities and on its potential impact on gender development in urban and peri-urban areas. This article aims to analyse the impact of women enterprises active in the traditional herbal sector (jamu) in Indonesia in terms of household revenues and social status. The paper emphasises how despite the important socio-economic results of small-scale enterprises in the jamu sector in the city of Jogjakarta, some challenges on the real potential of this commercial activity on local women still remain.

Keywords: jamu; traditional medicine; Indonesia; local livelihoods; gender empowerment; small-scale enterprises; traditional knowledge; social empowerment; small business; medicinal plants; women entrepreneurs; female entrepreneurship; traditional herbal sector; household revenue; social status.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2012.046477

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2012 Vol.15 No.4, pp.488 - 501

Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

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