JP\/17\/LAMBS<\/p>\n
Farmers hope for Sleman of the lambs<\/p>\n
Sri Wahyuni
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Sleman, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
If you were to visit Sleman in the northern part of Yogyakarta
\nprovince, you would probably see pens being erected on most
\nfarms, and wonder, what for?<\/p>\n
\"We are required to build pens before joining the dombanisasi
\n(lamb) program. Its a prerequisite,\" the head of Mugi Rahayu
\nfarmer's group in Sompokan, Kasdi Budi Raharjo, 62, told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He was referring to the scheme recently launched by the
\nSleman administration, through which 20,000 lambs will be
\ndistributed to poor farmers in the region this year via a rolling
\nfund.<\/p>\n
In Sompokan hamlet, about 10 kilometers southwest of the
\nregental capital city of Sleman, four farmers are erecting pens.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, we could choose to breed any animal, not just
\nsheep, but we believe that sheep suit our objectives,\" said
\nAchmad Yulianto, head of the regency's agricultural and forestry
\noffice overseeing the project.<\/p>\n
Quoting a number of surveys conducted in Sleman, Yulianto said
\nthat the quality of soil in the region was poor as its organic
\nmatter had dropped to one percent. Therefore, compost, and
\nmanure, which the lambs would provide, had been recommended.<\/p>\n
Sheep manure, according to Yulianto, has for generations been
\nused for agricultural purposes. But there were other reasons for
\nchoosing sheep over goats, for example.<\/p>\n
\"Goats' main food is leaves while sheep eat grass. As you can
\nsee for yourself, we have plenty of grass here.\" said Yulianto.<\/p>\n
Sheep, according to Yulianto, are also easy to breed as they
\nhave a gestation period of 145 days, with three lambs often born
\nat once.<\/p>\n
It is hoped that the five-year program will increase the sheep
\npopulation in the region from some 30,000 currently to over
\n800,000 within five years.<\/p>\n
\"By then we expect to have the same population of lambs as we
\ndo of people,\" Sleman Regent Ibnu Subiyanto said at the launch of
\nthe scheme last month.<\/p>\n
Although the funds to buy the lambs are handed to individual
\nfarmers, to be eligible a farmer must belong to an accredited
\nfarmer's group.<\/p>\n
Through the program, participating groups will receive a total
\nof Rp 9 million each to be divided among its members. Recipients
\nof the loans must buy five lambs, four of which must be ewes.<\/p>\n
The groups are responsible for the repayment of the loans,
\nwhich are given with an interest rate of six percent a year, or
\nhalf of that offered by banks. Each recipient is given two years
\nto pay back the loan in two installments to the agricultural and
\nforestry office.<\/p>\n
Upon paying back the first installment a year later, the group
\nis given a month to submit another proposal. If their proposal is
\napproved the funds are rolled to other members of the group for
\nthe same purpose.<\/p>\n
\"We currently have a total of some Rp 12 billion of funds in
\nthe community, which are rolled from one group to another, from
\none person to another,\" said Yulianto.<\/p>\n
Introduced in 1998 with an initial fund of Rp 80 million from
\nthe regental government budget, according to Yulianto, the
\nprogram has proved to be effective in helping farmers earn
\nadditional income for their families, particularly those grouped
\nin the regency's farmer's groups, who number some
\n1,400 farmers at present.<\/p>\n
\"So, far, however, only 300 of them have submitted proposals
\nfor the dombanisasi program. We expect many more in the coming
\nmonths,\" Yulianto said.<\/p>\n
\"I'm glad that four of our villagers here can enjoy the
\nprogram. Although it does not give us an instant result, it does
\ngive us hope,\" Kasdi said.<\/p>\n
He said, even if each of the four ewes gave birth to just one
\nlamb, and they had to sell all of the initial five sheep to pay
\nback the loan, they could still keep the lamb.<\/p>\n
\"See, after we have paid back the loan, we can continue to
\nbreed more sheep, and my guess is we'll need lots more pens,\"
\nKasdi said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp17lambs-1447899208",
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