Excessive agricultural intensification has turned out to have environmental impacts that are less profitable. For example in coffee plants, intensification aimed to maximize production by applying a high input technology and without the use of shade plants have a negative impact on the form, among others Lowering soil fertility (chemical, physical, biological), increased parasitism (loss of natural enemies and cause penggangu body resistance to pesticides, environmental pollution (NO3, nitrate in water, pesticide residues in water and soil) and loss of biodiversity (Vaast, 2000).
Intensive farming systems are often called conventional agriculture that are considered less sympathetic to the preservation of the environment. Therefore, many experts are starting to think the need to find an alternative farming system that is considered more oriented to the preservation of the environment and do not harm human health. The term is often used in alternative farming system is organic farming. Matching is commonly used for organic farming is a low input agriculture, ecological agriculture, biological agriculture, biodinamika agriculture, natural farming and permaculture.
Lately more and more organic farming movement echoed in various parts of the world, including in Indonesia. But in its development, Indonesia is still facing various obstacles.
Constraints of Organic Agriculture Development in Indonesia
The development of organic farming in Indonesia is still very slow. However, interest in organic farming systems lately have started to grow. This is expected to positively impact the development of organic agriculture are the times to come. The obstacles encountered in the development of organic farming include:
A. Macro Constraints
Constraints in the development of organic agriculture among other macro market opportunities, research and development, and climate conditions.
Since the last two decades the world market demand of organic agricultural products began to grow. The growth of this market, particularly in Europe, is one of the main considerations in the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 (EEC, 1991). But the growth in organic agricultural products market until 2000 is still slow, so the market segment is still a niche market. Consumers of organic products is still limited to people who have a high concern on the environmental and health. Concern is encouraging they are willing to provide a premium price of organic products.
Domestic product of the agricultural market is still growing. Sometimes in the Supermarket for sale by certain agricultural products with a marked organic, not organic from authorized agencies. This phenomenon is interesting for organic development in the future, however the limitations of the domestic market will remain a major constraint in the short and medium term.
In addition to market constraints, research and development programs that support to the development of organic farming systems in Indonesia in other commodities is still not much done, so the development of agribusiness in the organic sector is still limited. Based on the commodity coffee experience mentioned above, research support is needed for the development of agribusiness in the organic sector can be successful. Therefore, research and development activities need to be more intensive agriculture, because agricultural systems tend to be specific locations and specific commodities.
Another obstacle is that Indonesia has the wet tropical climate, even in some places have no or very few dry periods. Such climatic conditions favorable for the bodies penganggu, especially fungi. The intensity of the attacks remains high penggangu will be more difficult in practice orgnaik agricultural application.
B. Micro Constraints
Micro constraints referred to in this paper is the obstacles that were found at the farm level, especially small farmers. Some macro constraints will be outlined as follows.
Interests of producers, the agricultural business in Indonesia has not much to Bethany beminat organic. Reluctance was mainly still unclear organic agricultural products market, including premium prices obtained.
Business interest for organic agricultural farming practice this would increase if the domestic market can be grown. Therefore, efforts to promote the advantages of organic agricultural products to consumers change intensified.
Lack of understanding, understanding of the farmers towards organic farming systems is still lacking. Organic agriculture is often understood the extent of agricultural practices that do not use inorganic fertilizer and pesticides.
The notion of organic farming systems the right needs to be disseminated to the public. The definition includes philosophy, purpose, application, trade, and others. As a reference for the dissemination of understanding of organic agriculture should use the basic standard formulated by IFOAM.
Organization at the farmer level, the Organization of the farmers is an important key in organic agricultural cultivation. This is related to the problem of education and certification. Agribusiness organic products at the level of small farmers would be difficult diwujudknan tanp support farmers' organizations.
In some areas, farmers' organizations is well established, but preferably in other areas of agricultural organization is still difficult to realize. Government encouragement for farmers to form associations as was the case lately, especially in the plantation sector, it will have a positive impact on agribusiness development of organic products.
The partnership of farmers and entrepreneurs, efforts to form partnerships between farmers and businessmen who had done some time ago that still has not yielded as expected by farmers. Partnerships between farmers and entrepreneurs is one key to success in pengembanga organic agricultural products, particularly when directed to export.
The pattern of partnership is often called a pattern foster father. In this case the entrepreneur as the father, among others, are obliged to market the products of farmer groups, to facilitate extension activities, care certification, and distributed saprodi. If the condition is possible, the function of the entrepreneur as a foster father can be replaced by a cooperative owned by farmers themselves (Surip Mawardi. Researchers at the Center for Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research).