The Prospect of Horticultural Organic Farming as Sustainable Agricultural Practice for Reducing Poverty: The Case in Bengkulu City, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract-Poverty is still an insistent problem which when confronted by humanity requires a systemic, comprehensive and synchronized approach to alleviate it. The concentration of urban and rural poverty in developing countries underpins the importance of agriculture as a poverty reduction strategy since most of the poor people depend on agriculture. Thus, improving agricultural productivity, competitiveness and sustainability may reduce poverty. This study was intended to (1) find out if sustainable agriculture, i.e., horticultural organic farming practices, could contribute to poverty reduction, (2) identify restrictive factors affecting horticulture organic farming development, and (3) formulate alternative policy intervention for poverty alleviation based on development of organic farming. The respondents were selected using purposive sampling method, comprising of 22 selfclaimed horticultural organic farmers and 22 horticultural conventional farmers. The data were gathered through a structuredquestionnaire and in-depth interview. Descriptive statistics, prospective analyses and analytical hierarchy process were used to analyze the data. The results showed that organic farming practices have potential to increase income of the horticultural farmers. Factors that constrained the development of horticultural organic farming were limited knowledge of organic practices, access to market, financial and risk management services or support. Alternative policy interventions, such as developing a linkage between producers and consumers, strengthening research and development on organic farming, enhancing dissemination knowledge of organic farming practices, and providing access to financial and agriculture management, are proposed.

Performance of organic farming in developing countries: a case of organic tomato value chain in Lebanon

“…For example, Adamtey et al (2016) and Bett and Ayieko (2017) in Kenya, and Yadava and Komaraiah (2020), Eyhorn et al (2018) and Mariappan and Zhou (2019) in India, documented the profitability of organic farming on rice, wheat and maize. In Indonesia, Adiprasetyo et al (2015), Fachrista et al (2019) and Widhiningsih (2020) reported similar evidence about organic vegetables. In fruits, Kleemann (2011) and Kleemann et al (2014) confirmed the economic benefits of organic certification for pineapple farmers in Ghana.…”

Motivation and background of participants and providers of self-harvest gardens in Germany

“…Thus far, most studies focused on specific projects or regions and analyzed the state of the projects (e.g., Van Averbeke, 2007; Lawal and Aliu, 2012; Bendt et al, 2013; Howard Schutzbank and Riseman, 2013; Hirsch et al, 2016), the theoretical potential, virtue and needs connected with the implementation (e.g., Adiprasetyo et al, 2015; Surls et al, 2015; Prasetiyo et al, 2016), the economic viability of specific projects (e.g., Vogl et al, 2004; Adenegan et al, 2016), or the networks and organizations of community gardens (Ghose and Pettygrove, 2014; Drake and Lawson, 2015). However, Opitz et al (2017) showed that self-harvest gardens contribute to the participants’ knowledge about food, like seasonality, and also help to gain insight in agricultural production methods and farmers’ perspectives.…”

The Implementation of Straw Mulch Experiments to Increase Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) Production in Horticulture Learning

“…So the increase in tomato weight in straw mulch with a thickness of 10% and 15% occurs because straw mulch can add adequate organic nitrogen elements to the soil. This optimal organic nitrogen makes tomato fruit growth perfect and its protein content increases [8].…”

“…Organic farming can support sustainable food security and food availability [8] like organic mulches. Organic mulches such as straw, hay, grass or leaves can provide many benefits for organic farming.…”