Initiation and Dissemination of Organic Rice Cultivation in Bali, Indonesia

Organic farming has attracted attention in Indonesia because consumers increasingly prefer the putative safety and health benefits of organic farm products. Although national standards for organic farm products were established in 2002, some products sold as organic products in supermarkets do not carry the certification mark. This study investigated organic rice farming on the island of Bali in Indonesia using fieldwork to ascertain the actual increase in organic farming. Results revealed that government certified organic farming used originally produced cattle manure to grow organic rice. At the market, however, some “quasi-organic farming” products, which had not been given the organic farming certification, were sold as organic rice. This eventuality suggests that although organic farming has been increasing steadily in Bali, development of sustainable recycling agriculture demands technical guidance and increased publicity for organic farming, based on national certification, to address misunderstandings and confusion about the definitions of organic farming and national standards that are transparent to producers and consumers.