This year, Indonesia celebrates 80 years of independence—a long journey that is not only about raising the flag every August but also about filling that independence with self-reliance and empowerment in all aspects of life. In that spirit, the story of Pak Sukamto offers a small yet powerful glimpse into how the dream of Indonesia Berdaya can be realized from the heart of a village.

For many, cooking without LPG gas sounds impossible. But for this salak farmer from Umbulharjo Village, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, it has been a daily reality for the past ten years. This is the embodiment of Indonesia Berdaya—a community able to meet its own energy needs while protecting the environment.

“I was hesitant at first, because hardly anyone knew about biogas back then,” he recalled. The doubt was understandable. Biogas was unfamiliar at the time, and some neighbors even thought the technology was complicated and wouldn’t last.

But his decision to try biogas became a turning point. By processing livestock manure into clean energy, he not only became energy self-sufficient for his household needs, but also gained bio-slurry—a nutrient-rich byproduct of biogas—which he used to fertilize his salak plantation.

These benefits convinced him that Indonesia Berdaya is more than just a slogan. His salak trees grew healthier, fertilizer costs went down, and the soil remained fertile. “Bio-slurry is more profitable than chemical fertilizer,” he said, showing his lush, fruit-laden salak garden.

Pak Sukamto didn’t stop there. He actively shares his experience with other farmers and livestock owners, hoping they too can harness biogas to its fullest. For him, this technology is a path toward a better life—not only for people, but also for nature.

This principle aligns perfectly with Rumah Energi’s vision of Indonesia Berdaya: building an environmentally conscious economy starting from the grassroots. When nature is cared for, it will ultimately return that kindness to us.

Written by: Fauzan Ramadhan