Beyond The Harvest: Social Practices Of Utilizing Corn Cobs as Animal Feed for A Sustainable Economy in Tambak Bayan Village, Percut Sei Tuan

Abstract

Utilizing local resources is a crucial aspect in supporting sustainable economic development in rural areas. One potential that has not been optimally utilized is agricultural waste, particularly corncobs, which are often discarded or burned after harvest. However, corncobs have economic value when processed and used as animal feed. In Tambak Bayan Village, Percut Sei Tuan District, the practice of utilizing corncobs as animal feed has developed as a community response to limited forage and the high price of commercial feed. This practice is not only related to the technical aspects of animal husbandry, but also reflects economic adaptation strategies, local knowledge, and social relations that are built in rural communities. This study aims to examine the social practice of utilizing corncobs as animal feed and its contribution to the sustainable economy of the Tambak Bayan Village community. In addition, this study also analyzes social factors that influence the sustainability of this practice, such as cooperation patterns, the inheritance of local knowledge, and the survival strategies of farming and livestock households. The research method used is a qualitative approach with a case study method, through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and field documentation. The research stages include preparation, fieldwork implementation, data analysis, report preparation, and dissemination and publication of research results. The targeted outputs in this research include the final research report, publication of a scientific article in the Anthropos Journal: Journal of Social and Cultural Anthropology (SINTA 3), and copyright of the research report. This research is at the initial Technology Readiness Level (TKT), namely at the stage of formulating research questions and reviewing basic principles, with the hope that it can become the basis for developing an agricultural waste management model based on social practices of rural communities in the next