Hope Through Herding: Rebuilding Life with Goats

Arif Wibowo (47 years old) and his wife, Suharlilin, are residents of Jono Oge Village who were affected by the devastating earthquake and liquefaction disaster in 2018. When the disaster struck, Mr. Wibowo lost his home, and his farmland was severely damaged and rendered unusable. The government later declared the liquefaction-affected area a red zone, advising residents not to rebuild there. As a result, Mr. Wibowo and his family were relocated to the Bulupountu Jaya Transmigration Settlement Unit, located in Sidera Village, Sigi Regency.

There, Mr. Wibowo received a donated plot of land measuring 20 x 30 m² and a semi-permanent house of 6 x 6 m². However, the remaining land could not be used for farming due to limited water access, which led the family to shift their focus to livestock. Initially, Mr. Wibowo raised four goats. Unfortunately, he struggled with high mortality rates, production issues, and disease outbreaks—largely due to the effects of climate change.

These challenges sparked his interest in participating in the Sukakeswan (Community-based Animal Health Volunteer) training facilitated by ADRA Indonesia in 2022. After joining the program, Mr. Wibowo gained valuable experience and skills in animal health. At his own farm, he applied improved sanitation and biosecurity measures, better feed management, and appropriate animal healthcare practices to maintain healthy and productive livestock.

In 2023, Mr. Wibowo received an additional two goats through ADRA’s revolving livestock assistance program. Once the animals gave birth, he passed on two offspring to another participant, Mrs. Adelia, continuing the cycle. Today, his farm houses 17 goats. He has already sold 7 goats, aged 3 to 4 months, for a total of IDR 11 million (approx. USD 680). The income has helped meet his family’s daily needs, support his child’s school enrollment, and fund small-scale farming activities.

Beyond his goal of turning his farm into a profitable livestock business, Mr. Wibowo also aspires to be a role model for other farmers. He actively facilitates Livestock Field Schools and community-based livestock health services (Posyandu Ternak) in collaboration with ADRA Indonesia. He also co-founded a local goat farming community with fellow residents of the Bulupountu Jaya settlement called Konco Ramban, meaning “Grazing Companions.” The group has had a positive impact—today, all goat farmers in Settlement Unit 3 (SP3) have transitioned to pen-based farming. The community also organizes self-funded initiatives such as communal work and other social activities.

Currently, Mr. Wibowo is developing his livestock business, focusing on selling young goats. He has also taken steps to formalize his enterprise by registering a business identification number (NIB) for his farm, named Kandang Ternak AFIFA. He expresses deep gratitude to ADRA Indonesia for providing him with opportunities to improve his knowledge and skills in livestock farming—skills that now provide sustainable income for his family.