Valorising Rice Husk and Cattle Manure for Circular Rural Empowerment

Abstract

Parangbanoa, Pallangga District, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, is an assisted community within the village empowerment programme where cattle farming constitutes an important local livelihood activity. The coexistence of livestock activity and agricultural residues creates an opportunity to convert locally available waste into productive inputs. This community engagement initiative aimed to strengthen local capacity to utilise rice husk-derived material and cattle manure as horticultural growing media while introducing a practical pathway towards circular rural economic diversification. The programme used a participatory mini-workshop comprising leaflet-assisted education, a baseline pre-test, material explanation, demonstration, and hands-on preparation of growing media. Photographic documentation indicates the participation of approximately 30 adult community members, predominantly from livestock-farming and agriculture-related households. Participants were directly involved in the preparation and mixing process, producing a practical prototype pathway for transforming agricultural and livestock residues into horticultural inputs. Because a verified post-test recap, product-adoption record, and income follow-up were unavailable, the programme is interpreted as an early-stage capacity-building intervention rather than evidence of realised income growth. The initiative is consistent with circular economy principles and Islamic economic ethics concerning resource stewardship, avoidance of waste, and public benefit.