Produksi, Pendapatan, dan Kinerja Pemasaran Gula Aren pada Skema Perhutanan Sosial di Desa Gelangsar

Abstract

Pengembangan gula aren sebagai hasil hutan bukan kayu (HHBK) pada skema perhutanan sosial memerlukan pemahaman terpadu mengenai proses produksi, kinerja ekonomi usaha, dan distribusi harga sepanjang saluran pemasaran. Penelitian terdahulu umumnya membahas proses produksi, kelayakan usaha, atau pemasaran secara terpisah, sehingga keterkaitan antara karakteristik produksi, biaya usaha, dan kinerja pemasaran pada tingkat kelompok tani hutan masih terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan mendeskripsikan proses dan karakteristik produksi gula aren, menganalisis biaya, penerimaan, dan pendapatan usaha, mengidentifikasi saluran pemasaran, serta menghitung margin pemasaran dan farmer’s share di Desa Gelangsar, Kecamatan Gunungsari, Kabupaten Lombok Barat. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kuantitatif; responden produsen ditentukan melalui sensus anggota KTH Hijau Makmur, sedangkan lembaga pemasaran ditelusuri dengan snowball sampling. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa gula aren masih diproduksi secara tradisional dalam bentuk gula cetak dengan cetakan bambu. Terdapat tiga saluran pemasaran, yaitu produsen–konsumen, produsen–pengecer–konsumen, dan produsen–pengepul–pengecer–konsumen. Margin total masing-masing saluran adalah Rp0, Rp2.000, dan Rp2.000 per unit, dengan farmer’s share masing-masing 100%, 80%, dan 80%. Namun, data volume nira, jumlah unit produksi, dan komponen biaya masih memerlukan rekonsiliasi sebelum digunakan sebagai estimasi akhir pendapatan. Temuan ini menegaskan pentingnya pencatatan biaya yang lengkap dan penguatan pemasaran untuk meningkatkan nilai ekonomi gula aren sebagai HHBK.

Palm sugar development as a non-timber forest product (NTFP) under a social forestry scheme requires an integrated understanding of production, farm-level economic performance, and price distribution across marketing channels. Previous studies have generally examined production processes, business feasibility, or marketing separately; therefore, the links between production characteristics, production costs, and marketing performance at the forest-farmer-group level remain insufficiently documented. This study aims to describe palm sugar production and product characteristics, analyze recorded costs, revenues, and income, identify marketing channels, and calculate marketing margins and farmer’s share in Gelangsar Village, Gunungsari Subdistrict, West Lombok Regency. A descriptive quantitative approach was applied. Producer respondents were identified through a census of members of the Hijau Makmur Forest Farmer Group, while marketing intermediaries were traced using snowball sampling. The results show that palm sugar is still produced traditionally as molded sugar using bamboo molds. Three marketing channels were identified: producer–consumer, producer–retailer–consumer, and producer–collector–retailer–consumer. Total marketing margins were Rp0, Rp2,000, and Rp2,000 per unit, respectively, while farmer’s shares were 100%, 80%, and 80%. However, sap volume, product-unit totals, and cost components require reconciliation before final income estimates are reported. These findings highlight the importance of complete cost recording and stronger marketing arrangements for improving the economic value of palm sugar as an NTFP.