IPB University Graduate School LPDP Awardees Visited Pak Lebah Honey MSMEs
Awardees of the Educational Fund Management Institution (LPDP) of the Graduate School (SPs) of IPB University held an activity ‘LPDP Goes to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)’ by visiting MSMEs of Honey Pak Lebah farm in Sukabakti sub-Village, Sukawening Village, Dramaga District, Bogor on 8/10.
Madu Pak Lebah is a honey bee farm pioneered by an IPB University alumnus in 2013 and was fostered by the Center for Business Incubator and Entrepreneurship Development (IncuBie) IPB University. The types of stingless honey-producing bees in Pak Lebah Honey Farm are Trigona laeviceps and Trigona itana.
“In honey bee cultivation, the bee feed provided are the flower nectar of Kapok randu, Longan, Rambutan, and Rubber arround the farm environment area. Honey bee farming provides business opportunities that are still wide open. This is because the demand for honey in Indonesia is still very high, especially in urban areas,” said Eureka Indra Zatnika, owner and pioneer of Pak Lebah Honey.
“Honey is beneficial for maintaining body immunity, so we will continue to develop the potential of this bee honey cultivation. During the Covid-19 pandemic, honey orders at Madu Pak Lebah increased significantly with average sales reaching 3,000 – 3,500 bottles per day,” she said.
She added that besides selling honey, the farm also conducts training and educational tours. So far, Madu Pak Lebah has received support from various agencies, both from IPB University and the local government to develop the UMKM of Madu Pak Lebah.
“It is hoped that in 2024 Madu Pak Lebah can expand the market and production so that it will provide many benefits, both in terms of the economy and open up job opportunities for the community around the UMKM of Madu Pak Lebah,” said Eureka.
Meanwhile, Gunawan, coordinator of the LPDP awardee SPs IPB University, revealed that in pioneering MSMEs, one must have courage, one example is the Pak Lebah Honey pioneered by Eureka Indra Zatnika. She decided to leave her job to build the Honey Pak Lebah UMKM, thus providing employment for the surrounding community.
“We hope that LPDP awardees can take inspiration from this Honey Pak Lebah MSME which can encourage economic growth for the surrounding community. Through this visit, hopefully it can be a provision to make a positive contribution to the LPDP awardees after completing their studies at SPs IPB University,” he added. (HBL) (IAAS/SHY)
