Coffee, Honey, and a Village Economy Fueled by Tourism in Simalungun

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee greets visitors at Kafe Takoma in Sait Buttu Saribu Village, Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra. From its veranda, a landscape unfolds where tourism and the village economy grow side-by-side, featuring green hills, a children's play area, and a honey bee farm.

The cafe is more than just a place to enjoy coffee. Downstairs, locally grown coffee beans are dried before being prepared for visitors. Nearby, the Takoma Honey Bee Education and Tourism area invites visitors to learn about stingless bee cultivation, from observing the hives and honey harvesting process to tasting the product directly from the beekeepers. The simple, lively atmosphere makes the tourist area feel vibrant, offering visitors a chance to see how the community manages its village potential as a source of livelihood.

This integrated economic ecosystem, where tourists buying coffee support farmers and purchasing honey aids beekeepers, did not develop overnight. Since 2020, Bank Indonesia, through its Pematangsiantar representative office, has been mentoring the community via its Social Program (PSBI). The support extends beyond single businesses, fostering interconnected economic groups.

Anton Pitono, Head of the Communication Department Group at Bank Indonesia, explained that the approach focuses on building an ecosystem rather than just assisting individual entrepreneurs. "We are not just building individuals. There are honey groups, coffee farmers, tourism awareness groups. We combine them all so that when this place becomes a tourist destination, the people here can optimally seize economic opportunities," he stated. Bank Indonesia's assistance begins with strengthening the foundation of community businesses, such as providing support for the honey bee group, including building breeding houses, supplying production equipment, and offering training to enhance management capacity. They also facilitate knowledge sharing with beekeeping experts to improve cultivation techniques and product quality.

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What we are building is not just individuals. There are honey groups, coffee farmers, tourism awareness groups. We combine them all so that when this place becomes a tourist destination, the people here can optimally seize economic opportunities.