Sekar Bumi Farm, owned and managed by Pak Ketut Subagia,  is the largest organic heliconia farm in Bali and an agrotourism destination in Indonesia. It is co-developing a long-term partnership in “sustainable dynamics” with WOW Bali. The resource-sharing and joint efforts between the two serve to co-develop new ecological sustainability standards and solutions and showcase these for the Sustainable Agrotourism sector as a Cultural Wealth Area for the Regency of Gianyar in Bali, Indonesia.

 

Pak Ketut is a local genius in his community. He originates from a family of farmers who have toiled the land for generations. He was born and raised in Desa Kerta, considered to be among the richest organic land in Bali, as it is situated in the rain-belt region. Bali, to him, is his “paradise island”. Having been brought up as a farmer by his great grandfather and his father, he has taken on the job of taking care of his village and he is happy to do it. Farming, in this sense, becomes a form of celebration for him. He manages 18 hectares of developed flower farm.

 

Aside from farming, his village is also into ecotourism. He is co-operating with Pak Made Gunawan, the village chief of Kerta for the development of ecotourism in the area. While the village is willing to offer the abundance of their village to tourists, finding the balance in sustainable development of ecotourism and agrotourism is the key towards preserving their land. The village is planning the development and management of the land. The people opted for ecotourism development that does away with building more and more hotel buildings for tourists, without realizing that the farmer would soon  no longer have land to till. They are working together with the government, with foundations, and with the academe through the Udayana and Dwijendra University to develop young students’ interest and skills in farming and ecotourism.