Farmers hope for 'Sleman of the lambs'

Farmers hope for 'Sleman of the lambs'

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post/Sleman, Yogyakarta

If you were to visit Sleman in the northern part of Yogyakarta
province, you would probably see pens being erected on most
farms, and wonder, what for?

"We are required to build pens before joining the dombanisasi
(lamb) program. Its a prerequisite," the head of Mugi Rahayu
farmer's group in Sompokan, Kasdi Budi Raharjo, 62, told The
Jakarta Post.

He was referring to the scheme recently launched by the
Sleman administration, through which 20,000 lambs will be
distributed to poor farmers in the region this year via a rolling
fund.

In Sompokan hamlet, about 10 kilometers southwest of the
regental capital city of Sleman, four farmers are erecting pens.

"Actually, we could choose to breed any animal, not just
sheep, but we believe that sheep suit our objectives," said
Achmad Yulianto, head of the regency's agricultural and forestry
office overseeing the project.

Quoting a number of surveys conducted in Sleman, Yulianto said
that the quality of soil in the region was poor as its organic
matter had dropped to one percent. Therefore, compost, and
manure, which the lambs would provide, had been recommended.

Sheep manure, according to Yulianto, has for generations been
used for agricultural purposes. But there were other reasons for
choosing sheep over goats, for example.

"Goats' main food is leaves while sheep eat grass. As you can
see for yourself, we have plenty of grass here." said Yulianto.

Sheep, according to Yulianto, are also easy to breed as they
have a gestation period of 145 days, with three lambs often born
at once.

It is hoped that the five-year program will increase the sheep
population in the region from some 30,000 currently to over
800,000 within five years.

"By then we expect to have the same population of lambs as we
do of people," Sleman Regent Ibnu Subiyanto said at the launch of
the scheme last month.

Although the funds to buy the lambs are handed to individual
farmers, to be eligible a farmer must belong to an accredited
farmer's group.

Through the program, participating groups will receive a total
of Rp 9 million each to be divided among its members. Recipients
of the loans must buy five lambs, four of which must be ewes.

The groups are responsible for the repayment of the loans,
which are given with an interest rate of six percent a year, or
half of that offered by banks. Each recipient is given two years
to pay back the loan in two installments to the agricultural and
forestry office.

Upon paying back the first installment a year later, the group
is given a month to submit another proposal. If their proposal is
approved the funds are rolled to other members of the group for
the same purpose.

"We currently have a total of some Rp 12 billion of funds in
the community, which are rolled from one group to another, from
one person to another," said Yulianto.

Introduced in 1998 with an initial fund of Rp 80 million from
the regental government budget, according to Yulianto, the
program has proved to be effective in helping farmers earn
additional income for their families, particularly those grouped
in the regency's farmer's groups, who number some
1,400 farmers at present.

"So, far, however, only 300 of them have submitted proposals
for the dombanisasi program. We expect many more in the coming
months," Yulianto said.

"I'm glad that four of our villagers here can enjoy the
program. Although it does not give us an instant result, it does
give us hope," Kasdi said.

He said, even if each of the four ewes gave birth to just one
lamb, and they had to sell all of the initial five sheep to pay
back the loan, they could still keep the lamb.

"See, after we have paid back the loan, we can continue to
breed more sheep, and my guess is we'll need lots more pens,"
Kasdi said.