Organic Farming

WHAT IS ORGANIC FARMING???
Natural teach virtue to mankind. Nature is a unity, composed of many components, such as organisms with organs. All parts are running in harmony, serve each other and share. Each organ has the role of each, are complementary and provide synergies to generate an optimal balance, and sustainable. Each component does not think and act just for the sake of "I", but for "us": the whole of nature. Natural Similarly, protecting and nurturing its parts in harmony. That is organic, not selfish.

Organic farming 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 nature there are biodiversity and ecological balance. Thus, organic farming also appreciate biodiversity and ecological balance. Millions of years of natural proven principle, there is no exploitation in addition to optimizing utilization. Likewise, organic farming, not to maximize the results, not excessive: but enough for all beings and continuous. This is the basic philosophy of organic agriculture.

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 to damage ecosystems and the health of agricultural land the farmers themselves.

Declining crop yields coupled with increasing resistance of pests and plant diseases, 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 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 to 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 over the last decade has increased. Concern was followed by concrete efforts to produce food without causing resource damage to soil, water and air as well as safe for human health. One attempt was initiated with the development of organic agriculture is environmentally friendly and produces healthy food, free of residues of drugs and chemicals that kill.

In fact, organic farming has become wisdom / knowledge among entrenched traditional farmers in Indonesia. However, organic farming technology is becoming obsolete as technology intensification of farmers who rely on agrochemical ingredients applied in agriculture. Since then, farmers have become a target intake of agrochemicals and hanging from outsiders. After emerging issues of environmental impact resulting from the use of chemicals in agriculture, organic farming technology environmentally friendly and healthy food production began to be considered again.

What and How Organic Farming?

Organic farming is farming in harmony with nature, appreciate and respect the principles at work in nature that has sustained all living millions of years. Organic farming is a farming process that aligns the ecological balance, diversity of varieties, as well as harmony with the climate and environment. In practice, organic farming as much as possible using natural ingredients contained in natural surroundings, and do not use agrochemicals intake (synthetic chemicals for agriculture). Furthermore, because organic agriculture attempts to imitate nature, the use of seeds or intake of substances containing genetically modified (GMO / Genetically Modified Organism) are also avoided.

Organic farming is often understood only technically refuse intake of chemical farming as farming or anti-modernization or equated with traditional farming. This understanding is really not quite right. Organic farming is not just a technique or method of farming, but also worldview, system of values, attitudes and beliefs alive. organic farming viewed nature as a whole, its components are interdependent and support, where people are also a part in it. Organic agriculture value system based on the principles of natural law. Organic farming also invite farmers and people in general to manage wisely and creatively in nature which is reflected in the attitudes and beliefs. Organic farming is also not averse to the use of modern technology in cultivation practices, as far as modern technology is in line with the principles of organic agriculture, namely sustainability, respect for the natural balance of the ecosystem, diversity of varieties, independence and local distinctiveness. Thus, both traditional knowledge and modern technology that is subject to the principle of nature, they have a place in organic agriculture.

Organic farming movement trying to collect all the effort of farmers and other actors, seriously and responsibly to avoid the intake of outside poisoning the environment with a view to obtaining 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.
Organic farming also encourages independence and solidarity among farmers as producers. Self to not depend on big corporations provider of agrochemical fertilizers and materials as well as seed companies. Solidarity for the sovereign and organize in order to achieve prosperity, fulfillment of rights and social justice for farmers.

Here are some general guidelines on organic farming:

a. Land
Basically all the land could be developed into an organic farm. The best is agricultural land from traditional farming practices or natural forest that never get the intake materials agrochemical (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 fauna and soil microorganisms. The length of the conversion depends on the intensity of 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 into organic conversion.

b. Seed
The seeds are used for organic farming is the seed that is not genetically engineered to get treatment. Farmers should use local seeds, or hybrid seeds that have adapted to the natural surroundings.
The advantage of using local seed is easy to obtain and cheap, even the farmers themselves can conceive. In addition, local seeds have a clear origin and in accordance with the conditions of the environment. By using their own seeds, farmers were not dependent on outsiders.

c. Preparation of planting
Land used for organic agricultural production is maintained as much as possible without having to disrupt stability, which is based on the method slightly tillage (minimum tillage)

d. Planting
The principle applied in organic farming practices, has always reflected the diversity of cropping in order to create plants (varieties). Planning and planting techniques need to be tailored to the nature of plants, principles of crop rotation and local weather conditions.

e. Plant Maintenance
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 happiness achieved maintenance plant itself.

f. Fertilization
In theory, organic farms will be more fertile because of the processes that 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 to the nutrients given / added. So the principle of fertilization is determined by our sensitivity in perceiving / judging when to plant food shortages.

g. Control HPT / OPT
Organic farming is based on the balance of the ecosystem. Consequently all existing organisms (including pests) is seen in the process contributing the balance. 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 orchard management HPT control method of choice because it fits with the principle of balance.

The use of natural pesticides is needed as far as we know that in the field of organic farming was an imbalance, which looks at the emergence of pests / diseases. The level of use also depends on the existing level of 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 not should not change at all original compositions. Because of the selection process, washing, packing, storage and transport of organic products need to be careful to keep them fresh and healthy condition when it was in the hands of the buyer. In organic farming, post-harvest activities to avoid the use of preservatives or other chemical treatment and minimal processing process.

Applicable standards in organic farming which serves as a guide for farmers and other actors in the operations in this field. This standard contains the fundamental principles of organic farming and general things that should be done and avoided in organic agriculture. 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 itself is developing standards for organic farming in harmony with the above guidelines and in accordance with the vision and mission BIOCert.