The eruption of Mount Semeru in late 2021 left deep grief for the residents of Lumajang Regency. This disaster not only destroyed thousands of homes and vital infrastructure, but also paralyzed the economic lifelines of the community, which had long relied on the agriculture, livestock, and sand mining sectors. Material losses reaching more than IDR 1.5 trillion became a grim mark on the region's recovery.
The reconstruction process required a major step: the relocation of residents from the red zone to a new housing area named Bumi Semeru Damai (BSD) in Sumbermujur Village. Although the residents' safety is now better guaranteed, this transition brought new challenges in the form of losing access to their traditional livelihoods. The need for economic assistance became extremely urgent so that residents would not only have housing, but also financial independence.
Addressing these challenges, a collaboration between Universitas Airlangga, BNPB, BPBD Lumajang, and the village government gave birth to an empowerment-based economic recovery initiative. Through a series of discussions and potential mapping, the livestock sector was chosen as the new economic locomotive for residents in the relocation site. This initiative was formalized with the establishment of the Kelompok Ternak Jaya and Kelompok Ternak Unggul in 2023.
These groups serve not merely as gathering places, but as centers for education and collective business development for the community. During a six-month mentoring period, livestock farmers were equipped with skills in livestock management to marketing strategies. Currently, development focuses on goat farming, supported by a measured feed management system to ensure business sustainability.
The success of this program proves that post-disaster rehabilitation must extend beyond mere physical construction. Economic recovery based on active community participation is the key to ensuring that Semeru disaster survivors can rebuild their futures to be more resilient and empowered.
