T

he bird flu epidemic in 2005 not only caused a decline in the population of local Javanese chicken species, but is also giving potential breeders second thoughts about raising chickens.

“It seems that local species are on the verge of extinction and the demand for poultry increasingly depends on imports,” Sujito said.

Sujito is seen as a pioneer of the Mandiri Free-range Chicken Farming Group in his village in Bantul, Yogyakarta.

He said the villagers’ decision to raise free-range chickens was motivated by haunting questions whether there was a safe way to raise chickens.

They decided to set the chickens free and found many of them died, until they came up with an idea about raising chickens in a coop, isolated from wild poultry.

The chickens were protected from diseases and their growth cycle was quicker than the chickens set free. More residents became interested in the method and in 2007 they formed the Mandiri Free-range Chicken Group, which served as a discussion forum especially on issues related to chicken farming.

“We didn’t imagine that raising free-range chickens would be the main livelihood for people in our area,” group leader Agung Yulianto said.

There are now more than 40 chicken farmers in Pucanganom selling more than 6,000 chickens each month.

For each chicken sold, residents contribute Rp 100 (about 1 US cent) to the group’s coffers. The total has now reached tens of millions of rupiah and covers the cost of day-old-chickens (DOC) and chicken feed.

“The cost of DOC and feed are covered by the group for now. The members pay their dues and contribute during the slaughter to the group’s treasury,” Agung said.

Agung, who studied animal husbandry, said free-range chicken farming helped minimize unemployment and raise people’s well being.

“Rather than working as a laborer in the city, it’s much better to be self-employed because it is more profitable,” Basuki, one of the chicken farmers, said.

The cost to raise a free-range chicken is between Rp 13,000 and Rp 14,000, with a 65 to 70-day-old chicken weighing up to 800 grams and selling for Rp 24,000 per kilogram or Rp 20,000 for a whole chicken.

“Each chicken could brings in between Rp 5,000 and Rp 8,000 in profit,” he said.

The Buras Mandiri chicken-farming community says it also provided free counseling to new farming groups.

“We don’t have special volunteers because we are all volunteers. We will provide counseling to new farming groups, from building coops to teaching raising techniques,”
Sujito said.

Sanden district has seen an increase in chicken-farming communities thanks to Buras Mandiri counseling, such as in Krangan, Murtigading, where a farming group produces 1,600 chickens and in Srigading, where the Segoro group produces more than 4,000 chickens each month.

The success of developing rural economies through free-range chicken farming has made Buras Mandiri a reference point for several poultry institutions and agencies.

Recently, a delegation from the Australian Agricultural Ministry conducted a survey before carrying out a bird flu handling program, and Buras Mandiri was one to the groups included in the criteria.

“Buras Mandiri has raised the people’s awareness. Now if there is a bird flu outbreak or other chicken farming issues, residents are quick to contact us so we can act immediately,” Sanden Animal Health Agency veterinarian Imawati said.