Search

This study, conducted in Kotawaringin Barat and Lamandau Districts of Central Kalimantan, aimed to investigate the patterns and implications of integrating oil palm cultivation with livestock farming. Utilizing qualitative research methods, including interviews and direct observations, three distinct integration patterns were identified: integrated (33.33%), semi-integrated (66.67%), and semi-integrated partnership (8.33%). The integrated pattern encompasses a closed-cycle system involving oil palm cultivation, cattle raising, complete feed processing, and organic fertilizer production. In contrast, the semi-integrated pattern harnesses only solid palm oil by-products for cattle feed and fertilizer blends, while the semi-integrated partnership involves collaborations between private palm oil entities and farmer groups, facilitating cattle and feed support. Remarkably, the application of produced organic fertilizer increased palm oil productivity by approximately 25% and yielded a benefit-cost (R/C) ratio of 4.0 for horticultural crops. Monthly organic fertilizer production ranged between 1-20 tons, with distribution across palm oil (33.3%), horticultural crops (8.3%), and other crops (58.3%). Additionally, liquid organic fertilizer production spanned 1000-4000 liters/month. The integrated approach, rooted in the palm oil sector, has led to the emergence of sustainable commercial units that bolster economic growth. Given its eco-friendly and popular adoption, formal legal backing from local authorities and further engagement between palm oil enterprises and farmer groups is recommended to ensure longevity and broader implementation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Integrated farming is an efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural activity that uses low-input resources, including abundant local materials, such as waste. According to previous studies, this program has been adopted by the Indonesian government to facilitate the achievement of sustainable agriculture. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the level of sustainability of low-input integrated agricultural farming by determining and analyzing the sustainability index. METHODS: Experts and business operators engaged in the integrated production of organic fertilizer, corn, and laying hen farming conducted scientific assessments to gather primary and secondary data. This was carried out through Focus Group Discussions and the completion of a questionnaire containing 34 attributes linked to environmental, economical, social, technological, and institutional aspects. The data obtained were then analyzed using a multidimensional scale technique. Monte Carlo analysis and alternating least-squares algorithm were used to examine sustainability status and significant characteristics. FINDINGS: The degree of agricultural integration's sustainability from organic fertilizer, corn, and layer hen farming was 86.10 percent. The results showed that techniques in several stages of the organic fertilizer production process, corn cultivation with the application of organic fertilizer, and laying hen farming with local feed, harvesting, and marketing, contributed to sustainable development by considering the strength aspects from each dimension. Based on the analysis results, the social dimension had a sustainable index score of 93.79 percent, followed by economic (90.57 percent), institutional (88.39 percent), environmental (83.45 percent), and technology (74.29 percent). Based on the findings, the factors that should be considered included 1) Efficiency in the utilization of water during egg, 2) fertilizer production and effectiveness of using fuel and electricity during the production and marketing, 3) an Industry manager level of education, 4) the ease by which raw materials can be obtained for the integration industry, 5) potential for increasing the low-input integrated agricultural farming, 6) the availability of integration industry facilities, infrastructure and level of expertise needed by managers in the people's integration sector, 7) Financial institutions' existence. CONCLUSION: Multidimensional mapping showed that the low-input integrated agricultural farming in the dry land of Pangkalan Lada District was running sustainably, with an average sustainability index of 86.10 percent. These results indicated that the integration of organic fertilizer, corn, and layer hen farming in the area had successfully optimized the available resources, created a sustainable farming model, and had the potential for adoption in various locations and future periods. The five evaluated dimensions showed good sustainability levels, with sustainability indices ranging from 74.29 percent (sustainable with a fair level) to 93.79 percent (very sustainable). Therefore, sustainability improvements in these farming activities must focus on technological aspects, with an emphasis on technological attributes that offered valuable insights for the government in formulating policies and programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Most Food Waste (FW) is dominated by domestic activities consisting of large numbers of organic pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphate potentially hazardous to the environment. Domestic waste can be used as a feed source in Black Soldier Fly (BSF) cultivation with utility in pollutant removal, animal feed production, and compost fertilizer. Therefore, this study aimed to determine sustainability of larvae from BSF cultivation by calculating and analyzing index. METHODS: Data collection was conducted using the scientific judgment of experts and business actors in BSF through Focus Group Discussion and the filling out of questionnaires consisting of 31 attributes connected with environment or ecology, economics, social, and technology dimensions. Furthermore, the data were calculated using the multi-dimensional scale approach with rapid appraisal software. Sustainability status and leverage attributes were analyzed by Monte Carlo analysis, and alternating leastsquares algorithm. FINDINGS: Sustainability index for larvae of BSF production was 89.69%. The result suggested that the technique in several stages of operation including waste collection, cultivation, harvesting, and commercialization contributed to sustainability development when the elements of strength of each dimension are considered. From the analysis of the four dimensions, economic dimension had 100% or maximum leverage value. The environmental and social dimensions had the same leverage values of 92.02%, while the technological dimension had 74.74%. The results indicated that management experiences and techniques, potential for odor generated, family member involvement, productivity level, and managers level, warrant further attention to improve sustainability of BSF production. CONCLUSION: Production, productivity, land conversion, and population were identified as significant or dominating factors impacting the supply framework of BSF production by the intended investigation inside the display ponders. Therefore, study should be encouraged to effectively integrate BSF biomass as a value-added component in an ideal environmental, social, economic, and technical system. The results are significant in providing insights into the possibility of feasible BSF biomass production in Indonesia, which can inform government policies and programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]