Corn Waste and Economic Well-being: An Innovative Model from Manggusta Village

The Indigenous Community of Kampung Manggusta in Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, is an indigenous community that manages the natural resources in its area to support environmental welfare and sustainability. For years, the community has strived to maintain traditional practices in managing natural resources wisely, creating a balance between utilization and preservation.

In an effort to strengthen the local economy and minimize waste, they initiated an innovative program to process corn waste (stalks and cobs) into useful products, namely animal feed and compost. This idea was realized with the support of the Nusantara Fund Direct Funding. The program began with several important preparations, including the procurement of machinery and training community members in the use of equipment.

The first step was to find a machine to process corn cobs and stalks into value-added products, namely animal feed and compost. However, the lack of suitable machines on the market was an initial challenge that had to be overcome. The community then took the initiative to work with a local workshop, a micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME), to assemble corn cob processing machines and grass choppers as needed.

After the machine was assembled and arrived at the location, a trial session was conducted to ensure that the machine functioned as expected. The trial phase was carried out by inserting around 500 kilograms of corn cobs and stalks into the machine. In the trial, it was proven that the processing machine was able to grind corn cobs into small flakes that were the ideal size for animal feed. In this session, community members observed and recorded every detail, including the capacity of the machine and the grinding results, to understand the efficiency and effectiveness of the tool in meeting the needs of animal feed sustainably.

During the process, several community members who became machine operators received direct training on machine operation and maintenance to keep it in prime condition even when used for a long period. After the machine trial phase was completed, the community continued the trial process of composting by utilizing organic waste from the surrounding area such as: corn stalks, grass, banana stalks, and palm fronds.

The composting process is carried out in several stages, starting with shredding organic materials using a shredder. After that, the shredded materials are mixed and stored in a container for a natural fermentation process. For several weeks, the compost is left to mature with regular monitoring from community members who are responsible for managing the compost. From the processing, the community managed to produce 2 tons of ready-to-use organic fertilizer. The organic fertilizer is then distributed to local farmers and used to improve soil quality in vegetable cultivation.

In addition to production, the program includes training activities to improve community members’ skills and knowledge on sustainable waste management. Each member involved in the processing of animal feed and compost gains an understanding of the principles of recycling and utilizing organic waste to reduce dependence on chemical feed and fertilizers. Community members also learn how to create a simple production plan, including raw material management and distribution of finished products.

This group business model has a direct economic impact on members. Where profits from the sale of animal feed and compost are shared among group members based on a profit-sharing system that has been mutually agreed upon. In addition to increasing individual income, community solidarity is also strengthened because each member feels they have an important role in the success of the business. Part of the sales proceeds are also allocated for business development, such as: replacing equipment, purchasing additional raw materials, and further training for new members.

By utilizing corn waste that was previously piled up as garbage, the Manggusta Village Indigenous Community has shown that local resources can be optimized to meet economic and ecological needs. Processing corn cobs and stalks into high-value products creates a low-waste production cycle, which means reducing the burden on mother earth. The compost produced helps improve soil quality and supports environmentally friendly agricultural practices, while corn waste-based animal feed provides an alternative for local farmers to increase productivity at a lower cost.