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Friday, September 6, 2013

Organic farming in the present

In times like these when nature has taught virtue for mankind . Nature is a unity , made ​​up of many parts , such as organisms with organs . All parts run in harmony , serve one another and share . Each organ has a role respectively , are complementary and provide synergy to produce an optimal balance , and sustainable . Each component does not think and act just for the sake of " I " , but for " us " : the whole universe . Natural Similarly , protecting and nurturing its parts in harmony . That is organic , not selfish .

Organic farming ( PO ) is also subject to the above principles , the laws of nature . Everything in nature is useful and has a function , complementary , serve and support for all . In the existing natural biodiversity and ecological balance . Thus , PO also appreciate biodiversity and ecological balance . Millions of years of natural proven principle , there is no exploitation in addition to optimizing utilization . Similarly PO , not to maximize the results , not excessive : but enough for all creatures and sustainable . This is the fundamental philosophy of PO .



Development of Organic Farming

Agricultural practices that use the seeds produced by seed companies , chemical substances manufactured ( agrochemicals ) --- both for land fertilization and pest control --- initially perceived to increase agricultural production . However , after several decades , the practice raises particular problems for ecosystem damage farmland and farmers' health .

Decline in agricultural output coupled with increased pest resistance and plant disease , caused by soil fauna that are beneficial to plants and microorganisms diminishing useful for soil fertility was almost lost due to excessive use of agrochemical inputs . In fact , pests and plant diseases instead of decreasing , but even more resistant to these chemicals . Thus, farmers need higher doses to get rid of it . This means that farmers not only spread the poison to eradicate pests and diseases , but also poisoned himself .

The attention of the world community to the problem of agriculture , health and the global environment in the last decade has increased . Concern was followed by concrete efforts to produce food without causing damage to land resources , water , and air , and safe for human health . One of the businesses that pioneered the development of PO that is environmentally friendly and produces healthy food , free of residues of drugs and chemicals that kill.

Actually , it has become wisdom PO / traditional knowledge among farmers entrenched in Indonesia. However , organic farming technology is becoming obsolete by farmers when intensification technologies that rely on agrochemical materials applied in agriculture . Since then , farmers and agrochemical target intake depends on outside parties . After emerging issues of environmental impact resulting from the use of chemicals in agriculture , PO technology environmentally friendly and produces healthy food began to be considered again .


What and How of Cultivating PO ?

PO is farming in harmony with nature , appreciate and respect the principles at work in nature that has sustained every creature lived millions of years. PO is a agricultural cultivation process of aligning the ecological balance , diversity of varieties , as well as harmony with the climate and the environment . In practice , the cultivation of PO using the maximum natural ingredients contained in natural surroundings , and do not use agrochemicals intake ( synthetic chemicals for agriculture ) . Furthermore , because the PO tried to duplicate nature , the use of seed or intake of substances that contain genetically modified ( GMO / Genetically Modified Organism ) is also avoided .

Often only understood technically PO farming refused chemical intake or as an anti- modernization of agricultural cultivation or lumped with traditional farming . This understanding is really not quite right . PO is not just a technique or method of farming , but also the point of view , the system of values, attitudes and beliefs alive . PO view nature as a whole , its components are interdependent and support , where humans are also a part in it . PO value system based on the principles of natural law . PO also invite farmers and people in general to manage wisely and creatively in nature which is reflected in the attitudes and beliefs. PO also did not reject the use of modern technology in the practice of cultivation , as far as modern technology is in line with the principle of PO , namely sustainability , respect for nature , the balance of the ecosystem , diversity of varieties , self-reliance and local peculiarities . Thus , both traditional wisdom and modern technology that is subject to the principle of nature , both have a place in the PO .

PO movement trying to collect the entire effort of farmers and other actors , who are serious and responsible to avoid intake of the poison outside environment in order to obtain a healthy environment . They are also trying to produce a sustainable crop production by improving soil fertility and the use of natural resources such as agricultural waste recycling .
Aquaculture PO , also encourages self-reliance and solidarity among farmers as producers . Self to not depend on large companies and providers of fertilizer and agrochemical ingredients seed company . Solidarity for sovereign and organize in order to achieve prosperity , fulfillment of rights and social justice for farmers .

Here are some that should be considered in organic agriculture :

a. Land
Basically all the land could be developed into land PO . The best agricultural land is derived from traditional farming practices or natural forest that never get intake agrochemical materials ( fertilizers and pesticides ) .
However , if the land were taken from the former conventional agriculture ( fertilizers and pesticides ) , they will first need to land conversion . Land conversion is an effort that aims to minimize the content of the remnants of the chemicals present in the soil and restore elements of soil fauna and microorganisms . The length of the conversion depends on the intensity of the use of chemical inputs and previous crops ( vegetables , rice or perennials ) .
Conversion period may be extended / shortened depending on the history of the land. When the conversion period has passed , the land is organic land . If less than that , then the land is still the land conversion towards organic .

b . Seed
Seed used for seed cultivation PO is not getting the treatment of genetic engineering . Farmers should use local seeds , or hybrid seeds that have adapted to the natural surroundings .
Excellence using local seeds are easy to obtain and cheap price , even the farmers themselves can conceive . In addition , local seed has a clear origin and in accordance with the conditions of the environment . By using their own seeds , farmers also do not depend on outside parties .

c . Preparation of planting
Land used for the production of PO as far as possible without having to disrupt its stability is maintained , which is based on the method of fewer tillage ( minimum tillage )

d . Planting
Principles applied in the practice of planting PO always reflect the diversity of cropping in order to create plants ( varieties ) . Planning and planting techniques need to be adapted to the nature of the plants , the principles of crop rotation and local weather conditions .

e . Maintenance of Plant
Each plant has a certain characteristic properties , the maintenance of the plant is determined by the nature of these characteristics . By identifying the characteristics of crops farmers can easily perform the appropriate maintenance , so the goal is achieved maintenance of the plant which is happiness itself.

f . Fertilization
In theory , a PO will be more fertile land because the processes are applied based on the maintenance of the land . But the reality , farmers often do not understand this so that the soil is always more nutrient loss --- through erosion , evaporation , etc. --- compared with a given nutrient / added . Then fertilizing principle determined by our sensitivity in perceiving / judging when to plant food shortages .

g . Control HPT / OPT
PO based on the balance of the ecosystem . Consequently all existing organisms ( including pests ) seen had a role in the balancing process . In other words , there is no living thing that is not useful . What is needed is to control pests / diseases that are not in excessive amounts .
Cropping pattern , crop rotation , mulching , plant engineering , and management gardens become the preferred method of controlling HPT because according to the principle of balance .
The use of natural pesticides needed as far as we know that the PO is going on in the land imbalance , which looks at the emergence of pests / diseases . Usage levels also depend on the level of existing disturbance .

h . Harvest
Every step in the production process will be assessed from the crop . The principle of the harvest is to maintain quality standards with appropriate timely harvest maturity . Harvesting also need to be careful so as not to cause damage to or loss of greater results .

i . Post-Harvest
Post-harvest activities should be able to suppress the results of the damage to a minimum . Processing methods that do should not change at all original compositions . Therefore the selection process , washing , packing , storage and transport of organic products need to be careful to keep it fresh and healthy condition when in the hands of the buyer . In PO , post-harvest activities to avoid the use of preservatives or other chemical treatment and minimal processing process .

In PO applicable standards that serve as guidelines for farmers and other actors in the operations in this field . This standard contains the fundamental principles of PO and general things that should be done and avoided in organic farming . For example , the government has issued SNI ( Indonesian National Standard ) 01-6729-2002 about Organic Food Systems which can be a reference for the development of relevant actors PO . This standard refers to the international standard of the Codex CAC / GL 32/1999 , and quite in tune with the basic standards of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement ) . BIOCert PO itself is developing a standard that is consistent with the above guidelines and in accordance with the vision and mission BIOCert .

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