“In the past, in North Sulawesi, most chicken eggs were still shipped in from Surabaya or Makassar. By establishing a poultry farm like this, I want to set an example—that egg production can be self-sufficient.”

The clamor of chickens fills the air. Their calls echo back and forth, rising and falling, occasionally growing louder when feed passes by. The atmosphere feels lively and warm. This is the daily scene at Cempaka Farm, a layer chicken farm in North Minahasa.

Amid the never-ending chorus of chickens, the conversation between Poultry Indonesia journalists and Olly Dondokambey continues. A national figure who has long been an inspiration and role model—especially for the people of North Sulawesi, a province he once led for two consecutive terms—Olly speaks candidly about his journey.

“Besides my hobby of raising animals, I chose layer farming because I see its very strong prospects. This livestock business has actually been around for a long time for me. I started with broilers and only switched to layers last year. During COVID-19, many restaurants closed, and broiler farming became less viable. That’s why I developed a layer farm at this site, starting with a manual system,” said the owner of Cempaka Farm.

The traditional coop was initially built to house around 7,500 birds. Gradually, productivity improved and the market responded positively. As a result, some of the houses began to be modernized: feed distribution became automated, and egg handling more efficient. Interestingly, Olly deliberately chose not to convert all the houses to mechanical systems, keeping some in their traditional form.

“I really want there to be a comparison, so people—especially young people—can see the difference. This is what the results look like with a manual system, and this is what they look like with mechanization,” he said when met at the farm on Friday (19/12/25).

The still-wide-open market opportunities in North Sulawesi, particularly among middle-income consumers, combined with the launch of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, have provided an even stronger push to produce eggs in this eastern region of Indonesia.

“As far as I remember, eggs here used to be mostly shipped from Surabaya or Makassar. By encouraging people to establish farms like this, I want to demonstrate that egg production can be independent and not reliant on other regions,” he explained.

During the discussion, Olly also outlined his next plans. He revealed that the new houses currently being prepared will differ from the existing ones. The system will not only control the house climate but also manage chicken manure by processing it into organic fertilizer.

“This is what we call a closed-house system. It’s different from this open house. The manure doesn’t just fall away; it’s collected directly and processed into fertilizer. That way, everything is integrated, and the manure can be immediately treated and utilized,” he continued.

He linked this manure-based fertilizer to North Sulawesi’s strong agricultural sector. According to him, one of the province’s best sources of economic growth comes from agriculture. Based on this, he has been actively encouraging farmers to move away from chemical fertilizers and instead use organic fertilizers made from fermented chicken manure.

With this approach, the cycle becomes more sustainable. Beyond the economic value generated by egg production, the waste now serves as a new source of nutrients for agriculture. On the other hand, Olly does not deny that this business has brought many benefits—both as a form of service to the community and as something he personally enjoys.

This article is an excerpt from the Profile section of Poultry Indonesia magazine, January 2026 edition. Read the full story in  Majalah Poultry Indonesia Edisi Januari 2026 For subscriptions or further information, please contact: https://wa.me/+6287780120754 or sirkulasipoultry@gmail.com.

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