UNAIR NEWS – The courage to leave his comfort zone, paired with planning and perseverance, led Rohmat Ansori SKM, an alumnus of the Bachelor’s Program in Public Health at the Faculty of Public Health (FKM), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Class of 2006, to become a layer poultry farming entrepreneur. Through Ansori Farm, a business he started on August 1, 2018, he now generates approximately Rp 250 million in monthly turnover.
Before turning to entrepreneurship, Ansori began his professional career at Bank Mandiri on June 15, 2011. He initially joined as a contract employee in the Trade Service Assistant position, a role related to trade transactions. Thanks to his performance and dedication, Ansori was promoted to permanent employee status on August 1, 2013, while continuing in the same role.
A big decision
After working for roughly seven years, Ansori made a major decision in his life. On August 1, 2018, he chose early retirement from Bank Mandiri and began building Ansori Farm.
The decision wasn’t made simply out of a desire to change jobs. Ansori was driven by a strong determination to improve his family’s economic condition while also gaining financial freedom and flexibility over his time.
“I left Bank Mandiri because I wanted to change my family’s fate so our financial situation would improve. I wanted to increase my income so I could gain financial independence and flexibility with my time. When you work for someone else, you’re bound by time, but in entrepreneurship, you have greater freedom to manage your time and set your own business direction,” Ansori said.
Facing the dynamics of layer poultry farming
Ansori Farm’s success wasn’t achieved overnight. In running a layer poultry farm, Ansori faced various challenges that could threaten his business’ sustainability. According to him, there are three main challenges: chicken health, which directly affects egg production; egg prices that can drop below the cost of production (COGS); and rising feed prices that aren’t always matched by a corresponding increase in egg prices.
To maintain productivity, Ansori prioritized chicken health through optimal care. Meanwhile, as a safeguard against fluctuations in feed and egg prices, he prepared a reserve fund that could be used during downturns.
“In business, there are always challenges. Chicken health must be carefully maintained because it directly affects egg production. When egg prices fall below COGS, or feed prices rise without a corresponding increase in egg prices, the business can suffer losses. That’s why I always make sure to maintain my flock’s health and keep a reserve fund ready,” he explained.
Ansori admitted he once came close to a situation that nearly brought his business down. It happened when he became too ambitious about expanding the business without careful calculations.
“I’ve never truly hit rock bottom, and I hope I never will. But I did come close once, because I was too ambitious about expanding the business without proper calculations. That experience taught me that courage still needs to come with caution, evaluation, and risk management,” he said.
That experience became an important lesson. Ansori came to understand more deeply that business growth must be pursued in a measured way, taking into account capital capacity, market conditions, operational costs, and potential risks.
Contributing to the SDGs
The growth of Ansori Farm doesn’t just benefit its owner economically, it also connects to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The layer poultry farm supports SDG 2: Zero Hunger, particularly by providing eggs as a source of animal protein needed by the community.
From an economic standpoint, the business aligns with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by strengthening entrepreneurship and productive economic activity. Managing livestock health and feed efficiency is also relevant to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, especially in promoting sustainable food production practices.
Ansori’s background in public health has also shaped the way he views his business. For him, farming isn’t just about generating profit, it’s also tied to livestock health, food safety, meeting community nutritional needs, risk management, and business sustainability.
Ansori’s story shows that public health alumni have the opportunity to contribute across diverse sectors, including entrepreneurship and the food industry. The competencies gained during university can be broadly applied to meet community needs while unlocking economic opportunities.
The courage to start is key
To students and aspiring young entrepreneurs, Ansori advised them to prepare their business plans carefully. Still, he believes that even a solid plan must be followed by the courage to take the first step.
“Planning before starting a business is important, but what matters even more is having the courage to actually start. Don’t just stop at planning. Start, keep learning, evaluate along the way, and don’t give up easily when challenges come,” he said.
Ansori’s journey, from a bank employee to the owner of a layer poultry farm generating hundreds of millions of rupiah in monthly turnover, is proof that major change can begin with the courage to make a decision. Through perseverance, risk management, and a commitment to continuous learning, he successfully grew Ansori Farm into a productive business that also contributes to food security and economic growth.
This story is expected to inspire students and FKM UNAIR alumni not to limit their fields of service or careers. Public health alumni can go on to become academics, practitioners, professionals, or entrepreneurs who bring real benefits to families, communities, and sustainable development.
Author: Muthmainnah
