At the shade of the Bamboo House, in Kampoeng Batara, Papring Sub-district, Kalipuro, Banyuwangi, the scent of damp bamboo wafts through busy working fingers. In that neighborhood, an old tradition is being given new life. For five days in April 2026, from April 11 to 19, the atmosphere there felt much more alive than usual. YBLL Village Facilitator, Meyco Danu Pradana, joined in supporting the activities of these twenty local artisans. Accompanied by 5 bamboo weaving trainers from Banyuwangi, they gathered not merely to chat as they usually do, but to sharpen their skills in a Truntum Bamboo weaving training workshop.
Apus bamboo became the star of this workshop. Not without reason, this type of bamboo was chosen for its special character, namely having a flexible, elastic texture and the right thickness, making the process of mengirat or thinning the bamboo slats easier. For the artisans in Papring, bamboo is no longer just a fence plant, but a fiber of life which, if processed with the right aesthetics, is capable of generating high economic value.
The journey of a bamboo slat into a piece of art is not an instant process. The participants had to go through three technical stages that demand high patience. It begins with the mengirat technique, where the bamboo is thinly sliced with feeling. The second stage is making the mata puru, a crucial detail that determines the strength of the pattern. The pinnacle is weaving the pre-colored truntum pattern, joining slat after slat until it forms a neat and artistic motif.
This effort is not just about filling spare time. The collaboration established between the Environmental Bamboo Foundation (YBLL) and Kampoeng Batara is a strategic step to increase the economic independence of local artisans. By utilizing raw materials that are abundantly available around their homes, the artisans are encouraged not to just stick to conventional products, but to dare to develop new innovations that are competitive in the market.
As proof of this dedication, an exhibition of works was held at the end of the training to introduce functional yet charming product innovations. A variety of types were produced, ranging from fashionable craft bags and aesthetic trash bins to multipurpose tiffin carriers made of truntum bamboo weaving. Despite its high artistic value, a sheet of truntum weaving measuring 50 cm x 60 cm is priced competitively, ranging around Rp 20,000.-
The small exhibition held for local residents at the end of the activity bore witness that in the right hands, this apus bamboo from the outskirts of Banyuwangi is capable of leveling up. In Papring, creativity now thrives between the bamboo fibers, bringing new hope for improving welfare through local wisdom values that continue to be nurtured.
"The hope is that participants can sustainably develop truntum weaving craft products to boost the local creative economy," said Danu, providing information on Wednesday (29/4).
