A SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC RICE AGRIBUSINESS STRATEGY IN CIANJUR DISTRICT

• Main Author: Naufal Syahidna, Brillyand
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/50403
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Sustainable agriculture has become a great challenge in agriculture nowadays. The use of chemicals as agricultural inputs results in soil damage and degradation of the carrying capacity of the environment. The organic rice agribusiness that has begun to be developed in Cianjur District is conceptually a solution in supporting the vision of sustainable agriculture in Indonesia. It is necessary to study the extent to which organic agriculture in the practical realm can contribute to addressing sustainability issues. This study aims to determine the status of sustainability and to formulate a management strategy for organic rice agribusiness in Cianjur District. This study used a survey method with the implementation including four main stages: 1) identification of aspects and compilers of sustainability attributes which included ecology, economy, social, technology, and infrastructure dimensions, 2) analysis of sustainability status using Rap-organic method, 3) determination of significant attributes from value of root mean square (RMS) as the sensitivity analysis result of Rap-organic method, and 4) prioritization of management strategy using QSPM (Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix) method. Respondents in this study were determined by purposive sampling. Primary data was obtained through direct observation, in-depth interview, and questionnaire. Secondary data was obtained through literature review, Department of Agriculture Cianjur District, Indonesian Organic Alliance, and West Java Central Bureau of Statistics. Based on the results of the study, it showed that the sustainability status of organic rice agribusiness in Cianjur District was in the fairly sustainable category with a sustainability index of 65.29. The prioritization of management strategy resulted in 16 alternative strategies with 6 priority strategies, namely: 1) Improving governance and implementation of organic rice farm business practice through the application of organic management practices that are in accordance with organic principles, ethics, and standards applied in a sustainable manner; 2) Implementing a combination of system of rice intensification (SRI-organic) cultivation technology and integrated pest management (IPM) to streamline the need for contamination-free water and maintain biodiversity; 3) Improving the system of recording all organic rice farm processes and environmental management through an internal control system in farmer groups; 4) Increasing and equalizing the institutional capacity of farmer groups in the downstream sector related to financial management, business negotiation, efficient application of information technology system and post-harvest technology; 5) Increasing access to irrigation system management for farmer groups in a participatory and communal manner as a form of water conservation; and 6) Increasing, fostering, and empowering young farmers as a form of organic rice farmer regeneration.