Beyond Profitability: Economic Trade-Offs and Socio-Cultural Drivers of The Transition from Tuak to Palm Sugar Production in Rural Indonesia
Abstract
Rural livelihood decisions are not always driven by profit maximization, particularly when economic activities intersect with social, cultural, and religious values. This study examines the transition from Tuak, a traditional fermented palm beverage, to palm sugar production in Lareh Sago Halaban, West Sumatra, Indonesia, by assessing both the economic consequences and the non-economic motivations underlying producers’ decisions. A census survey was conducted involving 18 palm-sap processors who had previously produced Tuak and subsequently shifted to palm sugar production. Producers’ motivations were examined descriptively using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, while changes in income before and after the transition were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test because the paired income data did not satisfy the normality assumption. The results reveal a clear economic–social trade-off. Fifteen of the 18 producers experienced lower income after shifting to palm sugar production, whereas three producers achieved higher income through product diversification into palm sugar powder, liquid palm sugar, and fresh palm sap. The Wilcoxon test confirmed a statistically significant difference in income before and after the transition (Z = −2.156, p = 0.031). Despite the higher economic returns associated with Tuak production, producers continued to shift toward palm sugar because of greater perceived security, social acceptance, personal pride, and opportunities for self-development. These findings demonstrate that livelihood transformation should be understood as a multidimensional decision in which economic returns are weighed against socio-cultural utility. Policies supporting value-added processing, product diversification, producer organizations, and market development are therefore essential to make socially preferred livelihood transitions economically sustainable.
Keywords
References
Apeh, A. A., & Opata, C. C. (2019). The oil palm wine economy of rural farmers in Nigeria: Evidence from Enugu Ezike, south-eastern Nigeria. Rural History, 30(2), 111–128. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956793319000062
Barlina, R., Liwu, S., & Manaroinsong, E. (2020). Potensi Dan Teknologi Pengolahan Komoditas Aren Sebagai Produk Pangan Dan Nonpangan / Potential and Technology Processing of Palm Sugar Commodity As Food and Non-Food Products. Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pengembangan Pertanian, 39(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.21082/jp3.v39n1.2020.p35-47
BPS Kabupaten Lima Puluh Kota. (2024). Lima Puluh Kota dalam Angka 2023. Berita Resmi Badan Pusat Statistik.
Budiaji, W., Fakultas, D., Universitas, P., Tirtayasa, A., Raya, J., Km, J., & Serang Banten, P. (2013). Skala Pengukuran Dan Jumlah Respon Skala Likert (The Measurement Scale and The Number of Responses in Likert Scale). Jurnal Ilmu Pertanian Dan Perikanan Desember, 2(2), 125–131. http://umbidharma.org/jipp
Cahyani, A. Z., Saragih, F. H., Mastuti, R., Agribisnis, P., & Pertanian, F. (2023). Analisis Kelayakan Finansial Usaha Pengelohan Gula Aren (Arenga pinnata) di Desa Air Tenang. Journal Grafting, 13(2), 51–58. http://ejournal.unisbablitar.ac.id/index.php/
Fachry, A. Z., & Asri, Z. (2025). Industri Rumah Tangga Aren di Nagari Labuah Gunuang Kecamatan Lareh Sago Halaban Kabupaten Lima Puluh Kota (2000-2020). Jurnal Kronologi, 7(3).
Farhan, & Rachman, I. N. A. (2023). Pemanfaatan Potensi Hasil Hutan Bukan Kayu (HHBK) Tuak Manis Terhadap Pendapatan Petani Pengelola Kawasan Hutan Kemasyarakatan (HKm) Desa Kekait Kecamatan Gunung Sari Kabupaten Lombok Barat. Jurnal Silva Samalas Journal of Forestry and Plant Science, 6(1), 37–46.
Handayani, P. A., Pribadi, F. S., Rusiyanto, Sariyoga, S., Putri, M. R., & Andriyani, R. (2022). Inovasi Produk Gula Aren Cetak Menjadi Gula Semut Untuk Meningkatkan Nilai Jual. Jurnal Pengabdian Dinamika, 9(1), 87–93.
Hanum, L., Sari, R. I. K., Fitrianti, S., & Hendriani, R. (2021). Analysis of the Added Value of Sugar Palm Products in Lareh Sago Halaban Sub-district, Lima Puluh Kota Regency. Journal of Agribusiness and Community Empowerment (JACE), 4(2), 99–107. https://doi.org/10.32530/jace.v4i2.420
Haris, S. W., & Makkarennu. (2020). Analisis Pendapatan Usaha Gula Aren Di Desa Gantarang Kabupaten Sinjai Sulawesi Selatan. Perennial, 16(1), 18–25. https://doi.org/10.24259/perennial.v16i1.9116
Hatu, R. A., Latare, S., Bumolo, S., & Duto, M. A. (2024). Dynamics of the Independent Farmers Group in Lakeya Village (A Study on the Independent Farmers Group in Lakeya Village, Tolangohula District). Sosiologi: Jurnal Penelitian Dan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 1(3), 111–119.
Hsu, H., & Lachenbruch, P. A. (n.d.). Paired t Test.
Jusriadi, E., Romadhoni, B., Nasrullah, N., Aisyah, S., Pasigai, Moh. A., & Hidayat, M. (2023). Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Berbasis Ekonomi Kreatif Melalui Inovasi Teknologi Dalam Pengolahan Nira Aren Menjadi Gula Semut. JMM (Jurnal Masyarakat Mandiri), 7(3), 2979. https://doi.org/10.31764/jmm.v7i3.14874
Kian, Y. R. K., Rangga, A., & Romario, de F. (2025). Analisis Pengelolaan Anggaran dan Pengembangan UMKM Pada Usaha Produksi Minuman Lokal (Tuak) Di Desa Lamika. Jurnal Kewirausahaan Dan Manajemen Bisnis CUAN, 3(3), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.59603/cuan.v3i1.97
Lia, R. (2022). Dari Ganja ke Palawija: Transformasi Masyarakat Petani di Lamteuba Aceh Besar. Jurnal Sosiologi Agama Indonesia (JSAI), 3(1). https://doi.org/10.22373/jsai.v3i1.1585
Markiewicz-Keszycka, M., Macken-Walsh, Á., Carter, A., Mooney, S., Devereux, E. J., Henchion, M., & Hynds, P. (2025). Farmers’ Experiences of Transitioning Towards Agroecology: Narratives of Change in Western Europe. Agriculture (Switzerland), 15(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15060625
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (2014). Analisis Data Kualitatif: buku Sumber Tentang Metode-Metode Baru . UI: Press.
Mustopa, Rangga, K. K., & Aviati, Y. (2023). Peran Ketua Kelompok Tani Pada Peningkatan Produktivitas Padi Sawah Di Desa Margosari Kecamatan Pagelaran Utara Kabupaten Pringsewu. Indonesian Journal of Socio Economics1, 2(1), 1–6.
Nopriari, N. N., Reni, N. N., & Suasih. (2024). Analisis Produktivitas dan Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Produksi UMKM Arak di Kecamatan Sidemen Kabupaten Karangasem. Jurnal Review Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran , 7(3), 7899–7906.
Oyeka, I. C. A., & Ebuh, G. U. (2012). Modified Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Open Journal of Statistics, 02(02), 172–176. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojs.2012.22019
Putri, Y. M., & Pamungkas, A. H. (2022). Alasan Pemuda Memilih Bekerja Sebagai Petani (Studi Kasus Pada Lulusan SMK di Nagari Sungai Nanam). Jurnal Family Education, 2(2), 177–183. https://doi.org/10.24036/jfe.v2i2.54
Sa’diyah, H., Mustafaroh, V. A., Rizaldi, D. F., Ashfy, A. C., & Suliyanah. (2024). Identifikasi Konsep Fisika pada Kearifan Lokal Pembuatan Tuak dan Budaya Nitik Tuak di Kabupaten Tuban. Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 2(2), 2962–3464. https://doi.org/10.58706/jipp
Salma, S., Revianda, R., & Hidayat, T. (2020). The Perspectives of Islamic Law (Hadd Al-Syurb) on Aia Niro and Tuak (Khamr) Activities in Nagari Batu Payuang Halaban. Society, 8(1), 249–263. https://doi.org/10.33019/society.v8i1.168
Saragih, N. F. Y., Suharno, & Harianto. (2018). Analisis Pendapatan dan Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Pendapatan Pengarjin Gula Aren di Kabupaten Rejang Lebong Provinsi Bengkulu.
Setyanti, A. M. (2021). Sektor Pertanian Dalam Dinamika Transformasi Struktural Di Indonesia. SEPA: Jurnal Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian Dan Agribisnis, 18(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.20961/sepa.v18i1.45605
Sugiyono. (2023). Metode Penelitian Administrasi Dilengkapi dengan Metode R & D . Alpabeta.
Sulistiyono, D., Suwarto, & Rindarjono, Moh. G. (2015). Transformasi Mata Pencaharian dari Petani ke Nelayan di Pantai Depok Parangtritis Kabupaten Bantul. Jurnal GeoEco, 1(2), 234.
Suwandi, A., Daulay, N., Imnur, R. H., Lubis, S. P. Z., Siregar, S. N., Pratama, S., & Wulandari, S. (2022). Peran dan Kendala Pengembangan Agroindustri di Indonesia. Jurnal Inovasi Penelitian, 2(10), 2722–9467.
Suwena, K. R. (2017). Menjual Tuak (Alkohol Bali) Sebuah Pilihan (Tinjauan Dari Perspektif Sosial dan Ekonomi Masyarakat di Desa Datah). In International Journal of Social Science and Businnes (Vol. 1, Number 1).
Wati, S., Harahap, M., Rullu, M., Kahirani, I., Mesra, romi, Chairunisa, H., Anggreini, H., Tapung, J. M. M., & Reswari, F. A. (2023). GELORA SUPPORT SYSTEM PADA LITERASI, BUDAYA DAN TEKNOLOGI Pengantar (Adi Wijayanto). Akademia Pustaka. www.akademiapustaka.com
Wijaya, L., Sumerta, I. N., Napitupulu, T. P., Kanti, A., Keim, A. P., Howell, K., & Sudiana, I. M. (2024). Cultural, nutritional and microbial perspectives of tuak, a traditional Balinese beverage. In Journal of Ethnic Foods (Vol. 11, Number 1). BioMed Central Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42779-024-00221-x
Zalukhu, R. S., Hutauruk, R. P. S., Collyn, D., Sinurat, Y. M., & Sinaga, M. (2024). Analisis Struktur Biaya Dan Break Even Point Pada UMKM Salero Basamo. Jurnal Mutiara Ilmu Akuntansi, 2(3), 336–346. https://doi.org/10.55606/jumia.v2i3.3288
Zulmi, A. D. P., Safitri, D. Z., Khairahma, Apriwidyanti, W., & Sibalan, R. (2024). Cultivating Health: Traditional Alcoholic Drink “Tuak” As A Potential Functional Drink For Regulating Blood Glucose Levels While Keeping Cultural Significance Intact. 2(1).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37046/jaj.v6i2.32757
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mila Quinsy Calista, Eliana Wulandari, Tuti Karyani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
