The Patriot Expedition Team of Universitas Gadjah Mada (TEP UGM) is developing key commodities in the Hialu transmigration area, North Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province. The area, established as a transmigrant settlement in 1994, primarily focuses on oil palm plantation as its main commodity. The Hialu Transmigration Area comprises four Settlement Unit Areas (SKP), located across four districts: Wiwirano, Langgikima, Landawe, and Oheo.
Alongside oil palm plantations, other commodities such as cattle farming, agriculture, and horticultural crops have gradually been developed over time. Among these, oil palm and cattle farming have become the most widespread and promising sectors for further development in the Hialu Transmigration Area.
Amid ongoing efforts to strengthen commodity development in the area, the TEP UGM held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Tuesday (Oct. 14). During the FGD, the TEP UGM Output-2 introduced opportunities for developing new economic activities among the transmigrant communities in Hialu through the concept of a Circular Economy Collaboration.
The concept integrates two leading commodities, oil palm and cattle, into an environmentally friendly economic system.
“Processing and utilizing oil palm waste as an alternative feed source for cattle is a way to reduce waste from plantation activities,” explained Joewono Soemardjito on Friday (Oct. 24).
According to Soemardjito, the use of cattle manure as fertilizer for oil palm and agricultural crops has great potential, particularly as the local cattle population continues to grow annually.
In addition to being used as an organic fertilizer, cattle waste can also be processed into biogas to meet household energy needs.
“Through this circular economy concept, we expect to foster new economic activities and create added value for communities in the Hialu Transmigration Area,” he said.
To ensure the success of this program, Soemardjito emphasized the need for collaboration among transmigrant residents and between SKPs, as most residents are engaged in oil palm cultivation, while some have begun raising cattle to meet the local demand for beef.
“In recent years, cattle farming has shown steady growth, and this activity requires consistent access to livestock feed,” he added.
The TEP UGM Output-2 in the Hialu Transmigration Area, North Konawe Regency, comprises Joewono Soemardjito (team leader), Christabel Geraldine Agustina, Ayura Fatwa Febriyanti, Hafizh Vergiansyah, and Husban Yarjuna Firdaus, along with members of the TEP Hialu Output-1 team.
During the FGD, they presented the concept of circular economy-based commodity development to transmigrant representatives from several villages within the Hialu Transmigration Area.
Unexpectedly, their presentation received a highly positive response from all participants. The transmigrant residents expressed strong interest in the proposed initiative. Feedback collected from questionnaires distributed before the session showed widespread enthusiasm for utilizing oil palm waste as cattle feed.
Participants also voiced hopes for support from the North Konawe Regency Government to help realize the proposed concept through technical assistance, training on producing feed from palm waste, equipment aid, and cattle shed construction.
“They also expressed the need for financial support to help sustain their business activities,” said Soemardjito.
Dr. Dewanti, lecturer at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), who served as a speaker at the FGD, highlighted the importance of bridge infrastructure to enhance accessibility and mobility for the area’s main commodities.
She noted that many transmigration areas still lack proper road and bridge infrastructure.
“This condition hampers the distribution and sale of key commodities, increasing transportation and logistics costs, which ultimately affects product prices at the consumer level,” explained Dr. Dewanti.
During the discussion, Hendra Samrandani, Head of the Transmigration Development Division at the North Konawe Manpower and Transmigration Office, encouraged all participants to share their views, expectations, and suggestions with the TEP UGM team regarding the development of key commodities in Hialu.
Representing the local government, he expressed commitment to supporting transmigration development in North Konawe within the scope of his duties and authority.
“I believe collaboration, coordination, and cross-sector cooperation are crucial to the success of government programs in advancing transmigration development in the future,” he stated.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: Haluan Rakyat and TEP UGM