Informal industries are prevalent in developing countries such as Indonesia. However, due to their unofficial nature, these industries face numerous challenges, including limited access to capital, low-skilled human resources, and insufficient technology and market information necessary for business growth. This research focuses on Ciparay, Ibun, and Majalaya—three sub-districts with the highest concentration of informal industries in Bandung Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. The study aims to analyze empowerment's role in enhancing informal industries' performance in Bandung Regency. A random survey was conducted with 115 food-based informal industry entrepreneurs, and data were analyzed using the PLS-SEM. Findings indicate that empowerment indirectly influences business performance through entrepreneurs' characteristics, managerial skills, and business knowledge (b=0.445). Entrepreneurial competence among informal entrepreneurs improves with empowerment programs, leading to enhanced industry performance. Based on these results, several policy recommendations are proposed: (1) strengthening entrepreneurial attitudes through training and mentoring, (2) enhancing managerial skills through practical support, (3) expanding business knowledge through digital literacy, and (4) creating an integrated empowerment ecosystem involving government, financial institutions, and private sector. Implementing this policy is expected to support the growth of the informal industry sector, and increase the contribution of the local economy in Bandung Regency.

Bandung Regency is a sizeable horticultural supplier for West Java and DKI Jakarta, Indonesia. Horticultural farming faces the constraints of expensive input prices and price fluctuations. This can reduce the welfare of farmers. This study aims to determine the welfare level of horticulture farmers families in Pengalengan Sub-District, Bandung Regency, from June-September 2019. The research method is a survey. Respondents were taken 10 % of the population, i.e., as many as 92 farmers families. The welfare level is measured based on eleven BPS indicators, namely income, expenses, living conditions, housing facilities, household member health, the ease of obtaining health services, the ease in education services, and obtaining transportation facilities, religious life, taste safe, and exercise ease. The poor criteria according to World Bank standard is family expenses of less than 1.9 USD per capita per day. The results show that average income was IDR 9,400,000 per capita per year. The average expenses were IDR 7,283,743 per capita per year. All of the respondents are categorized as non-poor and in the high welfare category.

Red chili was a strategic food commodity. Demand for red chili tends to increase, while production and prices fluctuate so as to affect the inflation rate was quite significant. Information about red chili consumer behavior can be used for product planning and price control. The purpose of this research was to know (1) the characteristics of red chili consumers, (2) the consumption pattern of red chili on household, and (3) the correlation between consumer characteristic and red chili consumption pattern. The research method was descriptive survey. Data collection with structured interviews and observation. Data analysis with cross tabulation and chi-square correlation test. Respondents were 69 housewives. The results showed all respondents used red chili for daily cooking. Average family income was 3-5 million/month. The pattern of red chili consumption was relatively stable on ordinary days and increased on feast days. There was a significant correlation between the number of families and the spicy taste with the consumption of red chili.