Sumba areas do have prospects in the farm business. Farm animals such as cows, buffalo, horses, chickens and pigs and others are potential. In this program Stube HEMAT focuses on the raise of cows, chickens and pigs after observing that three kinds of animals have a rising graph in the local business. Not only for food sources, are those animals also cultural animal, as cultural requirement in cultural ritual. What is considered important is the information of ranch management and developing plan. Participants will interact with the expert and get much information about it.
Community is not only consumers but at least understand how to run the process until market distribution.
This seminar is held on December 6-8, 2009 at Christian Church of Sumba Umamapu branch of Okanggapi with 30 participants consists of 7 female and 23 male.
Business Opportunities in the Field of Animal Husbandry
The first session is delivered by Siti Suryani. She delivers business management, how to start a business with 4 management functions covering (1) planning, (2) organizing, (3) leadership and (4) control. She explains each function and asks participants working in groups. Each group should have a design to have a certain business by considering the four aspects of management above. Beside, participants are gathering in groups to design to start a business to with the concept explained above. After completing the process of group discussion participants present the results of group discussion.
The first session is delivered by Siti Suryani. She delivers business management, how to start a business with 4 management functions covering (1) planning, (2) organizing, (3) leadership and (4) control. She explains each function and asks participants working in groups. Each group should have a design to have a certain business by considering the four aspects of management above. Beside, participants are gathering in groups to design to start a business to with the concept explained above. After completing the process of group discussion participants present the results of group discussion.
The next session is delivered by a veterinarian, Samuel Rundi with the theme of raising cattle, pigs and chickens. Rundi shares much about cattle farming including types of beef, breeding cattle and various kind of food for cows. He also encourages participants by sharing the benefits of cattle rising in the context of Sumba.
As a team of Rundi Samuel, Adriana Herni Fernandes explains how to raise chickens and pigs. These explanations include process breeding, sorts of pig and chickens. This session is focusing more on how to manage cattle business so it can run well and smoothly.
In a question and answer session Ardi, a participant asks why a certain type of cow cannot be combined with other types as an example of an albino cow.
It is good question since there are many people don’t know that albino cow is the result of crossbreeding between the first and second generation so that this type can not live with other sorts. Geographic condition of Sumba should come to consideration since in dry season; it is very difficult to get fresh grass even the grass is naturally burnt because of the heat and also one of Sumba people habits to burn something in dry season. The solution is choosing sort of cow matched with Sumba condition. It is advisable that cow with camel’s hump is good in this condition as it can eat dry grass so it will be no problem in dry season. However, the good way is planting grass on owner land as stock.
Besides natural condition of Sumba, threat of cattle theft is also factor that must be considered. It is usual for Sumbanese to let cattle scattered on the hills or hayfield because of so many number. It is not an easy way to handle and sometimes it weakens the spirit to have livestock business.
However, making cow shed is one solution to protect animals besides having networking with security stake holders.
Animal husbandry department actually has done some programs to encourage people breed such animals. They distribute calves to farmers to breed and plant grass as food stock. Unluckily, this department cannot reach all farmers or breeders.
Knowing husbandry lives, students are encouraged to see real cow shed as their exposure. They see and find farmers to have sharing on problems related with cow breeding and its prospect. They learn how to make cow shed and how to manage it. Based on the knowledge they have in previous sessions they have critical questions to ask. During the sharing time, participants have conclusion that cow breeding yield 85% profit as income for the breeders. It is good calculation that encourages them to open job chances by doing husbandry. Observing real business on husbandry opens their mindset that survival does not depend on being government officials. They want to know more how to make own business based on the context of local potency such as husbandry.
After the exposure, the participants get session how to manage chicken farm. Samuel Rundi still delivers the material for this session. First participants learn various kinds of chicken covering ras chicken, layer chicken and village chicken. They also learn how to begin business by cultivating chicken. The preview agribusiness is raising chicken for eggs or meat. Samuel Rundi adds that both demand of egg and meat is increasing in accordance with people’s good understanding on the need of animal protein for children growth. It is positive when such issue spreads out among students and this seminar should be held for several times regarding Sumba needs more and more animal farmers.
On the Monday morning, the place for the training is used for church worship, and one of the participants delivers the church service in Church of Umamapu. It is good practice for the participant since he is a student of theology institute.
The photos above depict Alrit Jericho delivers the church service. Members of Umamapu church with Stube HEMAT participants are having church service together. This situation actually grows an eucumenical atmosphere since the participants come from different churches in Sumba.
The next session is with Jermia B Ndelo by focusing on chicken eggs. He shares the usage of hatching box. Hatching box can fasten chicken reproduction and also accelerate chicken egg production.
Participants watch and observe the hatching box. They ask some questions to Jermia after explanation of the usage. Jermia explains and answer their questions patiently. Then he show how to make the hatching box.
First, participants should draw the sketch with desired sizes and consult to Jermia. Each of them enthusiastically wants to make by themselves to hatch eggs at home.
FOLLOW UPOn November 13, 2009 participants are following the follow up of livestock program. Guided by Stube HEMAT team, participants visit chicken and pig farms.
They practice to count the number of chicken, asses the weight and calculate the price. Participants are also asked to make comparison among different sorts of chicken. They come to conclusion that chicken has the most prospect among others. Visiting animal farms in a group with definitive goal gives different sense to them. Although it is not new for them, knowledge and guidance on the prospect of doing activities make them encouraged much to follow this activity. They express this impression in the discussion time with Samuel Rundi.
