Business · Energy & Commodities · 1 hr ago
University team trains Prafi cattle farmers to make feed from palm fronds
An Airlangga University team trained cattle farmers in Prafi, West Papua, to make silage from palm fronds.
The training is meant to help farmers who face challenges finding enough cattle feed.
Silage is fermented feed, and the palm fronds come from nearby plantations.
After 21 days of fermentation, the feed can be stored for times when grass is hard to find, including during heavy rain or long dry spells.
Using it could reduce feed costs and daily grass-gathering work for farmers.
Farmer Misno welcomed the program but said more people are needed to keep making the silage; no further steps were specified.
Airlangga University’s Patriot Expedition Team trained cattle farmers in Prafi, West Papua, to turn oil palm fronds into silage.
The training aimed to provide an alternative feed and reduce cattle-keeping costs.
Farmers said the program was welcome, but Misno of SP4 Prafi said more people were needed to sustain silage production.
After fermenting for 21 days, the silage can be stored as feed for periods when grass is hard to find.
- Who
- Airlangga University’s Patriot Expedition Team trained transmigrant cattle farmers, including farmers in SP4 Prafi.
- What
- The team trained farmers to process oil palm fronds into silage for cattle feed.
- When
- The article was published on November 6, 2026; the training date is not stated.
- Where
- Prafi District, Manokwari Regency, West Papua.
- Why
- To provide alternative feed, reduce cattle-keeping costs and help farmers when grass is difficult to obtain.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
President Prabowo Subianto gave guidance on maintaining and increasing national food production at the 17th National Farmers and Fishers Week in Gorontalo.
Processed oil palm fronds can be stored as reserve cattle feed.
- Training team
- Patriot Expedition Team, Airlangga University
- Training location
- Prafi District, Manokwari Regency, West Papua
- Feed material
- Oil palm fronds
- Fermentation period
- 21 days
- Farmer quoted
- Misno, SP4 Prafi
What people are saying
I am happy with this program because it makes use of oil palm fronds. In my view, this program is very good. However, to keep it going, we still lack people to help with the silage-making process.
Education, research, and community service must go hand in hand to produce real solutions for development.
Patriot Transmigration is not an elite program. It is the state’s way of ensuring that science is present in the field, works alongside the people, and creates real economic value, not just academic reports.