Managing Sustainable Practice Changes in a Low Input Bali Cattle Production System in West Sumbawa
8 Pages Posted: 19 Feb 2016 Last revised: 28 Feb 2016
Date Written: January 30, 2016
Abstract
Bali cattle enterprise in Eastern Indonesia is characterized by low productivity and small holder farming system that rely heavily on natural resource for feed. Although innovations of improved forage and feeding management are available, Sumbawanese farmers still practice extensive traditional feeding system. This paper discusses approach and strategies applied to manage change on farmers’ practices in a low input cattle production system aiming for higher productivity and profitability. An action research study was conducted in Sumbawa between 2010-2014 to assess contribution of approaches, methods and strategies towards farmers’ practice changes. The research was entwined in an adaptive research project entitled “improving forage tree legume management for cattle fattening in Eastern Indonesia”. The study has shown that a combination of methods and strategies developed from the results of a community based situation analysis was effective to manage farmers towards practice changes. These methods included rising self awareness, adaptive trial, increasing knowledge and skills and providing access to inputs. The practice changes can be seen by farmers started implementing the introduced innovations including planting improved feed Leucaena sp. and improved cattle management. These changed practices subsequently have improved the cattle productivity which has provided increased return for farmers. This paper concludes that more intensive stakeholder participation in planning processes resulted in a greater sense of ownership over achievements, followed by faster, more sustainable and self-motivated practice change. Sustainable practice change is likely to lead to higher agricultural productivity, in turn enhancing farmers’ livelihoods.
Keywords: traditional system, participation, adaptive trial, dry land
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