BARRU – Alleviating poverty by strengthening family economies requires an approach that encourages beneficiaries to develop their livelihoods productively and sustainably. This approach is being applied by the Faculty of Animal Science at Hasanuddin University (Fapet Unhas) together with the Barru Regency Government through the use of the Alope Unhas-1 chicken as one component of the Sufficient and Sustainable Economy-Based Poverty Reduction program.
The collaboration began with the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between Fapet Unhas and the Barru Regency Government in January 2026. Under the scheme, Fapet Unhas provides Alope Unhas-1 chicken seedstock, or day-old chicks (DOC), to be introduced to beneficiary families in a number of villages, urban villages, and districts in Barru Regency.
The program entered its implementation phase with beneficiaries through the signing of agreements between the Barru Regency Government and beneficiary families in the meeting room of the Barru Regency Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) on Friday (11 September). The event was attended by the Regent of Barru (Andi Ina Kartika Sari, S.H., M.Si.), the Vice Regent of Barru (Dr. Ir. Abustan A. Bintang, M.Si.), the Regional Secretary of Barru Regency (A. Syarifuddin, S.IP., M.Si.), heads of regional government agencies, district heads, urban village heads, and village heads from across Barru Regency.
Representing Fapet Unhas were members of the Alope chicken research team, Muh. Rachman Hakim, S.Pt., M.P., and Muh. Misbah A. Ruhani, S.Pt., M.Si. In the initial phase, 31 households from nine villages and urban villages received aid packages consisting of Alope chicks, laying-age ducks, and productive crop seedlings.
Conceptually, the model combines several sources of production within a single household economic unit. The Alope chickens are intended to provide a source of animal protein as well as income opportunities, the ducks support egg production, while the productive crops broaden the family’s food sources and economic yields. This diversification is important to reduce households’ dependence on a single commodity and to strengthen the economic resilience of beneficiaries.
Hakim explained that Alope Unhas-1 was chosen because of its characteristics as a chicken developed to meet the community’s need for local poultry that is highly adaptable to rural environments.
“Alope Unhas-1 was developed to be able to adapt to environmental conditions and to have good hardiness. We are promoting these traits so that they can support more productive family livestock farming,” said Hakim.
The successful development of a commodity is determined by knowledge ranging from husbandry, feed, animal health, and reproduction to business management. In addition to distributing chicks (DOC), Fapet Unhas is also building the community’s capacity to raise and develop the birds and, at a later stage, to produce their own chicks. In this way, the production chain can grow at the regional level.
Developing an Alope Unhas-1 breeding unit in Barru Regency is also seen as a strategic step. The availability of a local source of chicks could reduce dependence on outside supplies while opening up opportunities to develop community-based breeding centers.
“If Barru is able to build its own breeding unit, chicks will not always have to be brought in from outside. In the long term, this can create a more self-reliant livestock ecosystem and open up new economic opportunities for the community,” Hakim explained.
The production-based approach also gives the local government and the university room to carry out data-based evaluations. Data on the productivity and economic progress of beneficiaries can be used to determine mentoring patterns, production input needs, and strategies for expanding the program to other families.
Barru Regent Andi Ina Kartika Sari expressed appreciation for the commitment of Unhas, through Fapet, to supporting the local government’s programs, particularly the poverty alleviation agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We express our appreciation to the Rector and the Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science for their commitment to supporting the Barru Regency Government. We hope this program can strengthen the economy of beneficiary families while supporting the achievement of the SDGs, particularly the No Poverty goal,” said Andi Ina.
After the signing, the Regent of Barru, together with local government officials and the Unhas team, visited beneficiaries’ homes to see how ready residents were to manage the livestock and productive crop assistance. The visit also provided an initial picture of the environmental conditions and the capacity of households to run the production system.
The next phase will be strengthened through technical guidance on raising chickens and ducks. The mentoring is aimed at improving beneficiaries’ skills in feed management, animal health, husbandry, and business management.
The program not only tests the application of Alope Unhas-1 at household scale but also opens up room to develop a livestock intervention model whose impact on community food and economic security can be measured. The model is in line with SDG 1 (No Poverty) targets through the creation of productive livelihoods, SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) targets through strengthened food production, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) targets. (*/fapet/aya)
Editor: Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.