Alternative Markets with Community Participation for Grassroots Economic Development

Abstract

Alternative markets with community participation are a solution for developing the community economy, which is the development of the country’s grassroots economy. These alternative markets are available in both forms, using the area in the community as the criterion, or so-called community markets, and alternative markets using products as the criterion, or green markets. Alternative markets are markets free of middlemen, are areas where buyers and sellers can set reasonable prices, and are areas that promote career creation in the community, distribute income, and reduce inequality. They have local production processes using natural raw materials. Therefore, this production system is a process of conserving nature and the environment, resulting in good health in the community, creating a perspective on health care that is more preventive than curative, and creating good relationships between producers and consumers, knowing the sources of products in the market, and trusting each other. In addition, alternative markets play an important role in promoting community culture through organizing activities to exchange knowledge with each other in various forms, which plays an important role in developing communities in terms of economics, society, and the sustainable environment.