Perspective of Sustainable Agriculture in Indonesia: Keep Growing in Harmony with Environment

Abstract

The nature of agricultural production system in Indonesia is vuy diverse from shifting cultivation to in.te.n.sive food crop farming, from rainfed to intensive-irrigated paddy field, from vegetables mix fal'ming to monoculture industrial plantations, from subsistence-small fanning to commercial plantation, At present with about 230 million of population (2008), these systems have produced near to 100'1.) domestic need of rice, maize and some typical commodities. Its also contribute to the international market of palm oil, rubbel', cacao, coffee and other marketable products, Agriculture plays an impol'tant role as safety net which generates near to half of total employment and contributes about 20% of GDP, as well as very important contributor of merchandise exports. Agriculture plays important roles in Indonesia and significantly contributes to its socio-economic and environmental development. Rapid paces of agricultural development in the last 4 decades - as well as commercialization, industrialization and urbanization- have led to significant changes in the agl'icultural production system. Indonesia now is facing the challenge of how to continue the agl'icultural development and economic growth required to impl'ove quality of life and the basic needs of its growing population while on the other hand we have also to protect the environmental sustainability by reducing the pressure on its carrying capacity. hills Ii des, drought and flood in the lowland areas. Concerning to the present condition of agricultural practices in dealing with the needs to increase the productivity and at the same time to conserve the environment and natural resources, therefore we need to adjust our understanding and formulating the action strategy to develop better and sustainable agricultural practices in the future. The present status of agricultural condition and practices in Indonesia as well as some approach and action strategy will be briefly discussed.