Not Just Theory, but Action!
Monday, 4 December 2017by adminstube
The words above are appropriately pinned to Marthen Rangga Mbani, a young man from Wudi Pandak, Tabundung district, East Sumba. Equipped by knowledge and experience of learning about chickens in Yogyakarta, he has raised chickens in his house. Not only that, he also cultivates his house yards to plant crops.
Initially, in July 2016 he and two students from Stube HEMAT Sumba got opportunity to study in Yogyakarta as participants of Exposure to Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta because he had actively participated in Stube-HEMAT Sumba trainings. He chose chicken poultry as his learning focus in Yogyakarta because he breeds chicken in his house, Mboka, Kanatang, East Sumba. He hoped that the knowledge and skills got in Yogyakarta could help him to manage chickens at home, so he can sell with a better price and the profit will be used to pay his school fees at STT Terpadu, Waingapu.
In Yogyakarta, beside studying about Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta and how to breedchicken, Marthen also learned integrated agriculture in Joglo Tani at SlemanRegency under the guidance of TO Suprapto, an experienced agricultural practitioner. He practiced management of integrated agriculture, the role of livestock in agriculture and assembling safe and healthy chicken coops.
His learning process was continued to Temon, Kulonprogo to learn how toraise chicken with Gendut Minarto, a chicken breederhaving wide networks. He learned some steps of raising chicken that starts from preparing cages, feeds, vaccines and hen coop heater, sterilizing the cages, vaccinating chicks and feeding chickens, classifying chickensready for sale based on size and weight.
Upon his return to Sumba, he started raising chickens in his village in Tabundung, butit failed because all chickens died of sickness and season change. He did not give up. He moved his hen coops to Mboka, Kanatang, where he lived temporarily for college. One year after his efforts of raising chickens, he managed to maintain the chicken and sell 10-12 chicken per month.
Besides doing chickens, along with rainy season in Sumba, Marthen cultivates his house yards in Mboka. This area is known as hilly, arid and rocky area. People say that it is impossible to grow corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts and other crops, but Marthen has faith that when soil is cultivated, it will yield. He cultivates the soil and adds organic manure made from animal dung, such as, pigs, chickens, goats and compost from twigs and leaves. He avoids chemical ones because it will damage the soil. He believes that a good effort will be blessed by Godbecause there is a willingness to do. Come on, not be just NATO (No Action Talk Only).
"I thanked to Stube-HEMAT who has given me training on raising chickens, so I have income from it, although it just a little butI can help my parents. I will continue this chicken business although I have limitationbecause I have to share time to study in campus. I try as well as I can, thank you Stube," he said.That’s right, young people, knowledge settledin the head will not be useful for others. Marthen has started with raising chicken and his experience is improving by utilizing his house yards for planting crops. Keep the spirit and be a blessing. (TRU).
