Educational Melon-Picking Tourism Becomes Batang Regency's New Attraction

Beyond the expanse of rice fields and the serene coastal villages of northern Java, a new initiative is changing How people view village agriculture. The Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes) of Depok Village launched an educational melon-picking tourism program at Greenside Farm in Depok Village, Kandeman District, Batang Regency, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Located in Batang Regency, specifically in Depok Village, Kandeman District, this destination not only offers the experience of picking fresh fruit straight from the plant but also provides lessons on modern greenhouse-based agriculture.

From Village Land to an Open Learning Space

Depok Village Head Kaminoto stated that this tourism was developed to encourage public interest in fruit cultivation while boosting the village's economy.

"Until now, fruit cultivation was often seen as unpromising due to pests. However, with the greenhouse system implemented by BUMDes Desa Depok, Alhamdulillah, it has succeeded and simultaneously provides education to the community," he said, quoted from the Batang Regency Government website.

The approximately 400-square-meter greenhouse shelters around 1,200 melon plants. Three varieties are intensively cultivated: Inthanon, The Blues, and Sweet Lavender, each offering distinct taste profiles and aromas, from soft sweetness to fresh crispness.

According to him, melons have a fairly high demand among the public. Therefore, BUMDes decided to develop this commodity.

The Experience of Picking, Weighing, and Enjoying

At Greenside Farm, the tourism experience is designed to be simple yet personal. Visitors walk among ANTARA neatly arranged rows of plants, select fruit at their desired ripeness level, and then pick it.

After obtaining their chosen melon, visitors then pay according to the fruit's net weight.

"The price is Rp30,000 per kilogram. Visitors are Free to choose their preferred variety," he explained.

Direct interaction with the plants makes this experience feel more intimate than simply buying fruit at the market.

Children can learn to recognize varieties. Parents understand modern cultivation techniques, while the village gains added value from the Educational Tourism sector.

Harvest Season, Season of Hope

For the initial stage, this Melon Picking Tourism is open starting January 20, 2026, and will be open daily until the harvest season ends.

This initiative is part of the village's transformation towards an adaptive and sustainable modern agriculture model. It doesn't just sell harvests, but also sells experiences and knowledge.

He hopes the success of this program can become a model for developing modern agricultural businesses in Depok Village.

"Moving forward, it's not only melons, but also other plants that can invigorate the economy of Depok Village and Batang Regency," he concluded.

Depok Village's educational melon-picking tourism concept is more than just horticultural cultivation; it is also new optimism about the future of community-based agriculture and Tourism in Batang.