kelulut (Trigona itama). This type of bee does not. They are small like flies and nest in trees a lot. The taste of honey from kelulut bees is a bit sour. Even though the price is cheap, it can reach half a million rupiah per liter because the taste is not unique,
Even the kelulut honey beekeepers are flooded with orders.
Iham or often called abu ham, one of the owners of the Kelulud Sahabat Honey business from East Aceh Regency, has been pursuing kelulut honey cultivation since 2020. He said that before the pandemic, he only pocketed a turnover of IDR 5 million per month.
However, during the pandemic, inspiration's income doubled, to IDR 10 million a month. "Since selling online, in a month, 20 liters of kelulut honey can be used up," he said
He sells kelulut honey at a price of IDR 50,000 to IDR 600,000 per bottle, depending on the size. Market reach to Medan, Malaysia and Jambi jam
Because of the large number of requests, now abu ham no longer serves requests in large parties. And, he only focuses on serving buyers via the marketplace.
Seeing the potential that exists, Ilham plans to multiply the kelulut bee colony by breaking it up. The goal is to produce more kelulut honey because there are plans to try out foreign markets such as Singapore and Malaysia via the marketplace.
To that end, Iham began optimizing his five kelulut bee cultivation blocks. Both those around the yard of his house to the forest.
Understandably, apart from selling honey, Iham also sells kelulut bees which he costs around Rp 900,000 for a colony. He targets, can produce 350 bee colonies kelulut a year.
And, Iham is optimistic, people are increasingly interested in cultivating kelulut bees. Moreover, the method of cultivation is relatively easy, it is enough to buy a colony of kelulut bees, and place it in a shady home page. Next, plant flower plants that creep, which is a source of food for kelulut bees. The harvest period can be 15 days.
In addition, ILHAM wants to develop its honey business into a kelulut bee education tour.