Students from PPM School of Management participated in the community empowerment process at Ciletuh Palabuhanratu UNESCO Global Geopark (CPUGGp) through honeybee farming. This initiative is one of the contributions of PPM School of Management students and the campus toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The honeybee farming training and field practice were conducted on Friday and Saturday (February 4-5, 2022) in Ciwaru Village, Ciemas District, Sukabumi Regency, West Java. The event was preceded by antigen testing for all participants and organizers to ensure adherence to health protocols in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The training was attended by approximately 25 residents of Ciemas District, consisting of youth groups, farmer groups, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
In addition to providing honey farming training in collaboration with Hengkara Honey Farm, a group of eight PPM students also provided assistance in the form of beekeeping facilities, queen bees, and honeybee colonies. They also conducted training on bookkeeping and financial recording, introducing participants to the SiApik application. This freely downloadable application helps participants manage their finances and provides insights into effective financial management.
Yunita Andi Kemalasari, M.M., a lecturer for the Leadership Development course at PPM School of Management, explained that the campus is committed to continuously supporting community empowerment and involving students in such activities as part of the learning process. "Through this empowerment activity, we hope students can engage with the community, understand real-world problems, and work together with the community to find solutions," said Yunita, who joined the event virtually via Zoom.
As a learning and fieldwork experience for the Leadership Development course, community empowerment activities are also expected to foster leadership qualities with empathy among students. This is essential, as a leader must not only possess technical skills but also lead with compassion and a sense of social responsibility.
By implementing their coursework through empowerment activities, students can provide tangible benefits to society. Consequently, the training provided can contribute to fostering a sustainable economic sector.
The Head of Community Empowerment at CPUGGp Management Agency, Yudi Panca Yoga, expressed gratitude to PPM and the participating students for their involvement in the empowerment process. He noted that the honeybee farming initiative is an excellent breakthrough and an example of collaboration in developing economic potential in the CPUGGp area.
"I have confidence in PPM’s academic excellence and the quality of its students, enabling them to offer an economic solution like honeybee farming for the local community. Economic development and community empowerment are crucial because optimizing the geopark ecosystem must align with efforts to boost the local economy," Yudi stated.
One of the participants, Andi, also expressed gratitude for the training and assistance provided by PPM and its students to the Ciemas District community. According to Andi, honeybee farming has the potential to become a sustainable economic activity in the Ciletuh Geopark area. "We just learned that, in addition to being processed, the mango crops in our area are also highly suitable for honeybee farming. Besides mango blossoms as a food source for bees, our region also has several other ideal nectar sources. We hope this marks the beginning of a promising new opportunity for us," Andi said.
The community empowerment activity through honeybee farming training and equipment distribution was initiated with the understanding that, since the COVID-19 pandemic, honey has become one of the most sought-after nutritional products due to its immune-boosting properties. Honeybee farming is also well-suited to Ciwaru Village, which has approximately 200 hectares of mango plantations and had no prior honeybee farming industry.
By initiating honeybee farming in the CPUGGp area, students also hope that the local community can become more self-reliant rather than merely observing the growing economic activities driven by the rising popularity of tourism in the CPUGGp region.