Membangun Peradaban Bersama Rakyat

Permaculture farming systems are increasingly in demand by farmers in North Sumatra. More and more healthy and nutritious food products, such as organic rice, free-range chicken eggs, and carp are produced.

MEDAN, KOMPAS — The permaculture system of agriculture is being intensified in North Sumatra, particularly in Serdang Bedagai Regency. This system that prioritizes healthy, nutritious, sustainable food, and cares for the earth and the future is increasingly in demand by farmers with limited land in the village.

“Agricultural products from the permaculture system are of higher quality, nutritious, healthy and diverse. A number of villages have started to produce healthy food with this system, such as free-range chicken eggs, organic rice, and natural carp,” said the Community Development Manager of the Indonesian Village Skills Foundation (Bitra) Berliana Siregar, Thursday (7/10/2021).

The permaculture system, said Berliana, puts forward a number of ethics, namely caring for the earth, others, and the future. This system develops co-production values, specificity of space and time, social and natural encounters, and ensures food is managed sustainably.

Farmers build natural fish ponds & grow organic vegetables in their yards in Lestari Dadi Village, Pegajahan District, Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra, Wednesday (6/10/2021)

The Bitra Indonesia Foundation has also provided assistance in a number of villages in North Sumatra to implement a number of permaculture components. These components include organic rice, vegetables and spices, livestock, animal feed, organic fertilizer, waste management, and biogas development.

Each village also divides zoning in its territory for permaculture purposes. Zone 1 is a place for houses, wells, water pumps, and sewage. Zone 2 for home gardens, herbal pharmacy, fruit trees, small livestock, vegetables and flowers.

Meanwhile, Zone 3 is allocated for large livestock, gardens, rice, vegetables, and intercropping. Zone 4 is rivers, swamps, bamboo, sugar palm, and fruits. “This system is more resistant to climate change, more energy independent, makes the soil more fertile, and minimizes water wastage,” says Berliana.

He explained that the permaculture system is also not tied to standardization and certification. This system actually creates a diversity of food products. Each region will produce its own superior product. It also maintains the biodiversity that exists in each area.

Jumino, a farmer who is also the Head of the Organic Quality Assurance Unit in Serdang Bedagai Regency, said that permaculture system agriculture is currently increasingly favored by farmers in a number of villages. This system is especially attractive to farmers with small plots of land or under 5 rante (2,000 square meters).

It is also driven by the difficulty of small farmers to get subsidized fertilizer from the government. “Currently, more and more farmers are planting organic rice, organic vegetables, and also making biogas,” he said.

Jumino, for example, is currently growing organic vegetables for his household and village needs. Their group also grows organic rice, makes organic fertilizers, and organic pesticides.

“I also make biogas to meet household needs. Currently, I no longer buy LPG because all my needs can be met from biogas,” said Jumino.

The biogas produced by Jumino uses a gas source from his cow dung. The biogas waste is also used for liquid fertilizer and plant growth regulators.

An extension worker at the Department of Food Crops and Horticulture of the North Sumatra Provincial Government, Rismauli Basa Gultom, said organic farming could help increase the productivity and quality of food crops in North Sumatra. Currently, North Sumatra is self-sufficient in rice, corn and red chilies.

However, North Sumatra is still in deficit for shallots, garlic and soybeans. Various efforts, such as increasing planting area, developing production centers, fulfilling production facilities, and increasing human resources, continue to be made to increase production.

By: NIKSON SINAGA

Editor: MOHAMAD FINAL DAENG

Sumber: https://www.kompas.id/baca/nusantara/2021/10/07/pertanian-permakultur-digencarkan-di-sumut/