Matei Village, Sabu Raijua - On Thursday, 8 June, SHEEP Indonesia and Organisasi Masyarakat Basis (OMB) Bersatu Matei Village have applied new knowledge in diversifying the production of local microorganism (mole) probiotics as a substitute for EM-4 (Effective Microorganism 4) commonly used in the fermentation process of animal feed. This initiative emerged from discussions among participants of the Matei village pig farming field school after they identified the potential of local ingredients such as banana bark and gula sabu (liquid palm sugar) that had never been utilised before.
So far, the process of making fermented feed has relied heavily on store-bought EM-4. The attractive packaging of EM-4 makes it look like a luxury item and is difficult to produce yourself. However, through repeated discussions and feed-making practices, the SHEEP Indonesia and OMB Bersatu Matei Village team managed to create banana root probiotics as an important alternative in fermented feed formulation.
The use of this local microorganism probiotic has had a positive impact on the field school participants, including improving the fermentation process of animal feed, increasing animal consumption uptake of feed, as well as significant control of manure odour. Mama Dina Kore Bangngu, one of the participants of the OMB Unified Field School in Matei Village, stated, "We used to spend a lot of time discussing in the cattle barns, where usually these pig pens seem dirty, smelly, and dirty; but in the barns of this Field School location we don't feel that, so we can also spend more time observing, learning, and playing with our livestock here". For them, apart from being able to optimise local materials around them, which are easily available and cheaper; they are also proud to be able to produce their own animal feed.
OMB Bersatu Matei Village, through its field school concept, makes every effort to utilise local resources. By utilising banana stumps and local pumpkin sugar to make probiotics, the OMB is demonstrating its ability to turn local ingredients into high-value products. These small steps taken by the OMB are inseparable from a shared awareness of the importance of self-reliance and reducing dependence on external materials. Field school participants hope that the needs in this pig farm can be fully sourced locally.
SHEEP Indonesia Foundation plays a role in running a sustainable local food self-sufficiency programme in Sabu Raijua District. This independence is emphasised in mentoring and collaboration with OMB Bersatu Matei Village. SHEEP Indonesia promotes awareness of the importance of the vision of self-reliance, strengthens the capacity of OMB, and facilitates OMB with relevant stakeholders, including the Livestock Division - Sabu Raijua District Agriculture & Food Office. With this close collaboration, it is hoped that the local food self-sufficiency programme can be realised in a sustainable manner.
