Feasibility of Kelulut (Heterotrigona itama) Honey Bee Cultivation Businesse by Forest Farmers Group in Sotek Village, Penajam Subdistrict

Abstract

Communities around the forest need a kelulut (Heterotrigona itama) honey bee business because it has many benefits, including producing healthy bee products, products with high economic value, and can be an alternative livelihood for the community, especially those around the forest. Cultivating honey bees in kelulut communities around the forest can contribute to the sustainability and improvement of forest ecosystem governance. This research aims to determine the cultivation of kelulut honey bees, the characteristics of breeders, and to analyze the feasibility of the kelulut honey bee business in Sotek Village, Penajam subdistrict, Penajam Paser Utara Regency. This research used a survey method of Kelulut honey beekeepers with a quantitative descriptive approach carried out in Sotek Village, Penajam subdistrict, Penajam Paser Utara Regency. from March to May 2024. The research stages are preparation, field observation, sample determination, data collection, data analysis, and reporting.  The collection in this study used a saturated sampling method, namely all breeders who were still actively running the kelulut bee business and were members of 5 Forest Farmer Groups assisted by KPHP Bongan with a total of 27 members. The feasibility of farming is analyzed using the R/C ratio approach.  The results of the research show that  (1) kelulut honey bee cultivation technology includes stages of preparation of stup, nest media, colony transfer, production, and harvest; (2) characteristics of Kelulut beekeepers aged between 18 – 63 year, high school education level, 2 years of farming experience, and the number of kelulut honey stock cultivated is between 2 – 10 stups; (3) the production cost of Kelulut bee honey is IDR 484,029.11/month, the average income is IDR 3,660,555.56/month, the income received by Kelulut honey bee farmers is an average of IDR 3,283,820.87/month, and (4) the R/C Ratio value is 7.65, which shows that the Kelulut honey bee business is efficient and worth pursuing.