Optimization of Trigona Honey Cultivation as an Effort for Economic Empowerment in Talang Seleman Village, Ogan Ilir Regency

Abstract

The Community Service Program (KKN) conducted in Talang Seleman Village, Ogan Ilir Regency, aimed to address the challenges of managing stingless bee honey (Trigona) which remained traditional and had yet to generate significant economic value for the community. The primary goal of this activity was to enhance local capacities in cultivation, harvesting, storage, and marketing of Trigona products so that they could evolve into sustainable micro-enterprises. The methods employed included field observations of bee colonies, interviews with beekeepers, focus group discussions, and participatory training covering hygienic harvesting techniques, product diversification, and digital marketing strategies. The subjects of the program were local beekeepers and villagers engaged as partners, who were actively involved throughout the implementation. The results demonstrated improvements in community skills in maintaining honey quality, the adoption of sterile containers for storage, the utilization of propolis and bee pollen as value-added products, and the introduction of labeled packaging. Additionally, villagers began to use social media and WhatsApp Business to expand their market reach, although coverage remains limited at this stage. Another notable achievement was the establishment of a collective business group to ensure program sustainability after KKN completion. These findings indicate that a participatory approach can bring about tangible improvements in technical, managerial, and social aspects. The main conclusion highlights that optimizing Trigona cultivation can serve as a driver for local economic empowerment while strengthening social cohesion, with future community service recommended to focus on product legalization and broader market networking.