UNU Jogja Adds to Its Doctoral Ranks, Agribusiness Lecturer Researches Eco-Efficiency of Dairy Farming in Sleman

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) has added another doctoral graduate to its academic community. Meita Puspa Dewi, a lecturer in the Agribusiness Study Program, officially earned her doctoral degree after defending her dissertation at Universitas Gadjah Mada on February 13, 2026.

This achievement not only marks a personal academic milestone but also strengthens UNU Jogja’s scholarly and research capacity, particularly in the field of sustainable agricultural and livestock systems. Her dissertation examined the eco-efficiency of input resource utilization in smallholder dairy farming in Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta.

The research was motivated by the growing national demand for fresh milk, which has not yet been fully matched by optimal productivity at the farm level. The national average milk production remains at 12.88 liters per cow per day, while in Sleman it ranges between 9–10 liters per cow per day.

This condition is closely related to the structure of the sector, which is dominated by small-scale dairy farmers owning only two to three cows, limited access to water resources, and suboptimal utilization of livestock waste and idle land.

In response to these challenges, Meita conducted a comprehensive analysis of production input patterns, efficiency levels, feed carrying capacity, and strategies to enhance business sustainability. The findings reveal that livestock manure utilization remains relatively low, at 27.69% for farms with ≤5 cows and 42.35% for farms with more than five cows.

“The eco-efficiency approach is not only oriented toward increasing milk production, but also toward ensuring economic, social, and environmental sustainability,” she explained.

According to her, the principle of doing more with less must be practically implemented in smallholder dairy systems so that production growth can go hand in hand with resource efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

In terms of water use, the study found that bathing livestock accounts for the largest share of water consumption, with total usage of 95.65 liters/AU/day and 117 liters/AU/day—still far below the standard requirement of 970 liters/AU/day. This indicates both limited access and opportunities to improve water resource management.

Furthermore, altitude was found to have a statistically significant effect (P<0.05) on forage production and feed carrying capacity. Through decision tree analysis, Meita also identified that selling milk through cooperatives generates the highest Expected Monetary Value (EMV). Meanwhile, in waste management, processing manure into biogas was found to be more profitable than converting it into compost or plant fertilizer.

She hopes that her research can serve as a policy reference for the development of smallholder dairy farming in Sleman, while also encouraging more sustainable and competitive farming practices.

This achievement further demonstrates UNU Jogja’s commitment to fostering doctoral-level lecturers who actively conduct applied and impactful research. It reflects the university’s dedication to strengthening the quality of the tridharma of higher education through research that directly benefits society and regional development. [Latifah]