Collective-Based Cattle Farming: Economic Sovereignty and Sustainable Management in East Timor's Ex-Transmigration Villages

The group of former East Timorese Transmigrant farmers who are members of the Buleleng Farmers Union (STB) are a group of farmers who live in Sumberklampok Village, Gerokgak District, Buleleng Regency, Bali. They are former East Timorese refugees who have been placed in this area since 2000. For more than two decades they have worked the land in the Limited Production Forest. Until now, they have not received full legality for the land they occupy, even though they have made various efforts to obtain land rights.

In a complex situation, STB continues to strive to improve welfare and economic independence through a collective cattle business development program with the support of the Nusantara Fund Direct Funding. The cattle business development program by the Buleleng Farmers Union (STB) was initiated with the aim of forming a sustainable collective business model, in order to increase community income and strengthen their economic independence. The initial stage begins with a series of deliberations involving all community members to reach an agreement regarding business management. In the deliberation, STB members jointly agree and determine various provisions related to the collective management system such as profit sharing, division of roles, and technical arrangements regarding cattle management. Where capital and profits are managed collectively by the organization, while technical maintenance and daily responsibilities are in the hands of individual members according to the agreement.

In the agreed system, livestock keepers receive 70% of the profits from the sale of cattle, while the remaining 30% is allocated to the management organization. After the capital is deducted, members have the opportunity to re-apply for the next stage of business capital. This system brings major changes to members, especially when compared to the common capital schemes they used before, such as gadas, where the harvest is divided equally between the owner and the keeper after the capital is deducted, or the bank credit system with interest charges that must be borne.

After reaching an agreement, the preparation stage began with intensive training on cattle farming and alternative feed production. The training was attended by 25 STB members and facilitated by the Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) Bali region. The main resource person in the training was a veterinarian who provided material related to cattle health care, fattening techniques, and the importance of nutrition in the livestock maintenance process. Participants were taught various methods for optimal cattle care, including how to recognize early signs of disease and methods for making alternative feed that can be made from materials available around their land, such as grass and leaves.

After the training was completed, STB and members began the construction phase of the cow sheds. The initial plan was to build four sheds, but due to the members' self-help support, the number of sheds built increased to six units. The process of building the sheds was carried out carefully so that each shed unit met the comfort and safety standards for livestock, including an adequate ventilation system and protection from the weather. In addition, each shed is equipped with waste disposal facilities so that cow dung can be collected periodically for organic fertilizer that can be used by the community to fertilize their agricultural land.

Once the pen is built and the cattle are acquired, the maintenance process begins with a management rotation system to ensure that each member involved has direct responsibility in caring for their cattle. Within the framework of collective management, 12 cattle are kept by 6 member farmers. In practice, each member who keeps cattle has two cattle that must be cared for until they reach harvest weight. This system allows each member to gain experience in all aspects of livestock management, from feed to health care. To monitor the development of the cattle, periodic evaluations are carried out involving community members and facilitators from KPA. Evaluation ensures that each cow remains in healthy condition and weight growth is as expected.

In addition to providing direct financial benefits for members, the program also provides other positive impacts, such as the availability of organic fertilizer materials. Organic fertilizer from livestock manure provides direct financial benefits for farmers who previously depended on chemical fertilizers. The application of organic fertilizer does not reduce production costs and improves soil quality in the long term so that the land is more fertile and productive. Thus, the benefits are not only felt in the economic aspect through the sale of cattle, but also in increasing agricultural yields that are healthier and more environmentally friendly.

Through the collective cattle farming business, STB has built governance based on the principles of mutual cooperation and self-reliance, reducing dependence on capital from conventional banking systems or external financiers. The collective cattle fattening business scheme is designed so that income generated from cattle sales can be continuously re-rolled for the development of the next business, creating a sustainable economic cycle. Thus, STB has not only succeeded in creating a more resilient economic model, but also supports economic justice for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities who face limited access to capital.