How the ACB, through the Small Grants Programme (SGP I) and its grantee Perkumpulan Desa Lestari, empowers cooperative members in Braja Harjosari village in Way Kambas to nurture Trigona bees and produce honey-based products which they sell online and in physical stores.
The warm and humid forests of Way Kambas are home to Trigona bees, a stingless bee species known for their efficient foraging habits and small size, making them ideal partners for sustainable honey production.
With support from SGP, several villages near WKNP are harnessing the unique properties of this bee species, offering local communities an alternative livelihood while easing pressures on the park’s natural resources.
Assessments conducted found that among livelihood options, honey production is one industry that has the greatest potential for success in almost all buffer villages in Way Kambas.
The villages of Rantau Jaya Udik II, Tegal Yoso, Raja Basa Lama I, Labuhan Ratu IX, Braja Harjosari, Braja Yekti, Braja Kencana, and Ranjau Jaya Makmur received grants to produce Trigona honey. With SGP’s assistance, they were able to procure honey logs that were distributed across villages.
All honey originating from the buffer villages of Way Kambas is marketed under the brand Madu Way Kambas.
Various honey-based products of Alas Kambas Marketing Cooperative
“In almost all villages where SGP Indonesia has provided assistance, the programme has played an important role in developing the Trigona honey business. The initiative not only provides a better source of income for the local community, but also helps in maintaining the sustainability of the surrounding environment and strengthens the presence of local bees as part of the national park’s biodiversity. Assistance for the development of Trigona honey is also intended to support activities related to negative elephant-human interactions in the WKNP,” the Penabulu Foundation shared in its final report to SGP.
In the villages of Braja Harjosari, Braja Yekti, and Rantau Jaya Udik II, Alas Kambas Marketing Cooperative has unified 89 farmers from five farmers’ groups. Previously isolated in their respective villages, these farmers now form a vibrant network, pooling their expertise and passion for honey production and building strategic relationships to widen their reach.
Formed in 2022, Alas Kambas now manages a total of 140 honey logs—20 at their cooperative office and 120 distributed across villagers’ backyards. They follow a meticulous process, extracting honey with care to avoid contamination and ensure both safety and an extended shelf life.
Pariyanto, a farmer and a member of the cooperative, credits the cooperative members’ knowledge on honey production technology to Perkumpulan Desa Lestari, an organisation that empowers communities by promoting sustainable environmental management in Indonesia.
Pariyanto, a member of Alas Kambas Marketing Cooperative, is grateful for the assistance they received from SGP
Alas Kambas offers a variety of stingless bee honey products, including raw honey in 250 ml bottles, honey sticks, honey body soap, and dishwashing soap. In addition, the cooperative produces ginger candy using locally grown ginger from the locals’ backyards.
The cooperative’s production method complies with Halal standards and meets the safety standards for Indonesia’s Sertifikat Produksi Pangan Industri Rumah Tangga (PIRT) or Certificate of Production forHousehold Food Industry. This ensures that their products are not only high-quality, but also safe for consumers.
The cooperative’s customer base includes local communities, as well as people in Java (including major cities likeJakarta and Bali). Online platforms like Facebook Marketplace and WhatsApp groups have been instrumental in connecting them to a broader audience. Additionally, their products are also available in local retail stores, including drug stores. “We also have resellers now. We have the same price whether you buy from us directly, from retailers, or from resellers.
Tourists learn about Trigona bees and honey-based products from Alas Kambas Marketing Cooperative
Today, their monthly gross sales hit IDR 2.5 million (EUR 145.66). “Online sales contribute IDR 1.5 million (EUR 87.39), while local buyers and retailers make up the remaining IDR 1 million (EUR 58.26). After expenses, a solid15 per cent of that revenue becomes net income, shared among cooperative members at year-end,” Pariyanto shared.
He added that honey production enables them to earn additional income to supplement their earnings from planting rice, corn, and rubber trees.
“I am very grateful to SGP. I am proud to be part of the cooperative because of the knowledge I gained from managing the organisation and earning additional income. It also allowed us to work closely with farmers’ groups from other villages. Our dream is to train others on how to produce honey and manage their earnings,” Pariyanto said.
Sustainable honey production
Stakeholders of the SGP projects in WKNP champion beekeeping projects for their dual benefits:conservation and community livelihoods. Bees rely on forest flora for honey production, and in return, pollinate and help regenerate the forest.
In Alas Kambas, locals nurture the Air Mata Panganten (Tears of the Bride) tree, a crucial food source for Trigona bees. Beekeepers are encouraged to plant and care for these trees and other flora, ensuring a thriving bee population.
Trigona bee (from the genus Tetragonula) feeds on the Tears of Bride (Antigonon leptopus) flowers which are nurtured by the local communities in Way Kambas National Park
Such practice is reminiscent of the principles of the circular economy where resource users make consciouseffort to sustainably use and manage natural resources and allow it to regenerate and renew. As the community realises the economic incentives of protecting biodiversity that support the production of their livelihood products, protecting nature becomes integral to their way of life.
