RRI.CO.ID, Sragen - The melon-picking greenhouse agrotourism program is set to become the flagship initiative of village-owned enterprise BUMDes Gabus Makmur in Gabus Village, Ngrampal Subdistrict, Sragen Regency, Central Java. More than just a profit-driven venture, the program also aims to provide affordable fruit for local residents.

During a media visit last weekend, the fragrance of fresh melons filled the air. Inside the UV-plastic greenhouse, thousands of neatly hanging melons awaited harvest. These are not ordinary melons. The varieties cultivated here are premium types, Amanda and Sweet Hammy (The Blues), renowned for their crisp texture and high sweetness levels.

“The sweetness is excellent, even above 15 Brix,” Head of Food Security at BUMDes Gabus Makmur, Sunar, said while showcasing ripe melons ready for picking.

The greenhouse has been transformed into a tourist destination where visitors can pick melons directly. Although premium melons typically sell for up to IDR 25,000 per kilogram, BUMDes Gabus Makmur has chosen a more community-friendly approach.

“We sell starting at IDR 20,000 per kilo, with special ones at IDR 22,000. We don’t want to set prices too high. What matters is building familiarity with local buyers. We’re not ready to charge as much as other places,” Sunar told reporters.

He added that the melon-picking destination is expected to become a new source of hope for the village enterprise, noting strong public interest. One buyer even purchased 50 melons at once.

“This strategy has proven effective. It not only drives the village economy but also allows residents to enjoy export-quality fruit at friendly prices,” Sunar said.

The pilot project covers a 35-meter plot with 940 melon plants. According to Sunar, greenhouse farming offers far greater control compared to open-field cultivation. “We are traditional farmers. Managing crops inside a greenhouse is easier to control than outside, though the initial investment is higher,” he explained.

Melons are only the beginning. On the southern side of Gabus Village, BUMDes is cultivating one hectare of land with 1,600 Cavendish banana trees, now about one meter tall.

Meanwhile, in the north, two hectares of sugarcane are being grown using Village Fund support under the Food Security Program. Looking ahead, Sunar expressed optimism, citing existing informal networks of buyers up to the provincial level and potential markets through the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

“Some MBG partners have already requested samples. In the future, besides melons, our Cavendish bananas will also be directed there. We already have regular individual customers, and once the big harvest comes, BUMDes will step in,” he said.

The initiative in Gabus Village demonstrates that with proper management and dedication, Village Funds can be transformed into productive assets that improve community welfare. (Misni Parjiati/Sri Wahyuni)