Income Potential, Marketing Dynamics, and Agrotourism Opportunities of Smallholder Strawberry Vendors in Potikelek Traditional Market, Wamena City

Abstract

This study investigates the income potential, marketing dynamics, and agrotourism opportunities of smallholder strawberry vendors in Potikelek Traditional Market, Wamena City, Highland Papua Province, where highland conditions are well suited for horticultural production. The research aims to assess the profitability of strawberry vending within traditional markets, identify structural constraints, and explore its contribution to sustainable livelihoods and rural diversification. Employing a qualitative descriptive design, data were collected through structured interviews with fifteen vendors and direct observations of sales and market practices. Profit calculations were based on the relationship between total revenue, fixed costs, variable costs, and net income. The findings reveal that strawberry vending generates an average weekly profit of Rp 376,250, providing meaningful but fragile income largely managed by women vendors. Cost structures were dominated by variable expenses, particularly labor and planting materials, while access to capital remained limited, constraining opportunities for scaling. Marketing channels centered on direct sales, allowing some flexibility but restricting bargaining power and geographic reach. Post-harvest losses were frequent due to inadequate storage and preservation technologies, while consumer preferences emphasized freshness, firmness, and visual appeal. These results align with studies highlighting the potential of high-value horticultural crops in supporting rural incomes but also confirm persistent vulnerabilities caused by financial exclusion, infrastructure gaps, and weak market integration. The study concludes that strawberries hold promise not only as a supplementary livelihood source but also as a driver of agrotourism and regional identity if supported by policies enhancing credit access, post-harvest innovation, and market linkages.