Golden snail and sheep urine fertiliser innovation curbs illegal gold mining in Bogor

Jakarta (ANTARA) - An innovation in producing liquid organic fertiliser (POC) called Beko, derived from fermented golden snails and sheep urine by a young man named Wahyudin, has succeeded in curbing illegal gold mining (PETI) activity amongst residents in the Bogor region of West Java.

Wahyu, a resident of Kalongliud Village, Nanggung District, Bogor Regency, said the liquid fertiliser innovation was developed to revive 35 hectares of abandoned farmland, working alongside the Taruna Muda youth group and other young villagers from his hometown.

“My concern over the large amount of dormant land and limited job opportunities drove me to contribute in Kalongliud. I was worried that if not addressed promptly, many residents would turn to illegal mining,” Wahyu said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The young man, born in 1988 and holding an accountancy degree, admitted he was not particularly interested in heading to the office towers of major cities to seek employment.

Instead, he chose to return to his hometown of Kalongliud Village, picking up a hoe and donning rubber boots.

The decision by the man affectionately known as Kang Wahyu was born of prolonged unease. For years, he had watched his village live in the shadow of illegal gold mining activity.

According to him, economic hardship and the destruction of irrigation infrastructure caused by a disaster in 2020 drove some residents to desperately seek their livelihood in mining shafts, risking their lives for uncertain income.

Wahyu expressed his concern over the vast amount of idle land and limited employment opportunities, which ultimately motivated him to contribute to his village.

“I was worried that if not addressed promptly, many people would turn to illegal mining,” Wahyu said.

In his view, the solution to the crisis and suppression of illegal mining lies in reviving abandoned agricultural land, as enforcement alone is insufficient without providing safe and decent economic alternatives.

“Preventing illegal mining cannot be achieved through enforcement alone. Communities need safer and more decent economic alternatives,” Wahyu stressed.

His concerns found a receptive audience in 2022, when his vision aligned with that of PT ANTAM Tbk UBPE Pongkor, which launched the Garitan Kalongliud social innovation programme.

Wahyu said he did not wish merely to be a programme beneficiary. He chose to stand at the forefront, leading the youth group and rallying young villagers to revive 35 hectares of abandoned land.

“The challenges on the ground were not straightforward. Chemical fertiliser prices had surged, golden snail pests were attacking rice paddies, and the water supply was limited,” he said.

However, for Wahyu, problems are the birthplace of innovation. Armed with training from ANTAM, he initiated the production of Beko liquid organic fertiliser, made from fermented golden snails and sheep urine.

This measure, combined with the use of 25 tonnes of sheep manure as organic fertiliser, successfully slashed fertiliser costs by 50 per cent.

To address the water crisis, Wahyu said he and fellow villagers assembled a simple drip irrigation system capable of saving water usage by up to 60 per cent.

The transformation did not stop at cultivation — he also broke farmers’ dependence on middlemen.

“The Taruna Muda group was positioned as a market facilitator, cutting the distribution chain and selling harvests directly to the Kemang and Kramat Jati wholesale markets,” he explained.

The impact has been significant, Wahyu continued, with farming group incomes rising by 65 per cent. Throughout 2024-2025, the chilli business unit managed jointly with his group recorded net profits of Rp246,258,000.

However, for Wahyu, the figures are only part of the story. The programme has served as a social safety net both for group members as direct beneficiaries and for the wider community.

“What makes me proudest is that eight former illegal miners have now transitioned to becoming productive farmers,” he explained.

At a macro level, the collaborative initiative with ANTAM has recorded a Social Return on Investment (SROI) value of 4.34 and contributed to reducing the village poverty rate by 6.52 per cent.

For his dedication, Wahyu was awarded the Environmental and Social Innovation Award (ENSIA) 2025 as an Inspirational Local Hero. His spirit continues to burn through the Garitan Learning Centre, which has been visited by more than 696 people.

For Wahyu, his degree and national award are not the pinnacle of achievement. His greatest victory is seeing his neighbours return home safely, carrying the fruits of honest labour.

“If we tend the land with heart, the land will sustain our lives. And if we move together, this village will always have hope,” Wahyu added.