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CERDAS: Circular Economy Development in Organic Agriculture

25 Apr 2022

CERDAS: Circular Economy Development in Organic Agriculture

Project leader: Mr Marcellinus Utomo

Level of education and university: Master, The Australian National University

Collaborating Organisations: Yayasan Bumi Sasmaya

Project Location: Bali

Activity Type: Community development activities

Sector: -

Project Rationale:

Most farmers in Gianyar, Bali, rely on chemical fertilizer subsidies because they are easy to access but this still costs them so much. The long term use of chemical fertilizers, which were initiated more than 30 years ago, have caused soil degradation that has worsened year after year. The farmers’ dependency on chemical fertilisers is a consequence of conventional farming methods introduced in the green revolution by the New Order Regime.

The National Development Plan (Kebijakan dan Strategi Nasional) on waste management has set a target to reduce household waste by 30% and the handling of household waste by 70% by 2025 compared to the year before 2017. This National Development plan has resulted in the adjustment of Provincial Policy on waste management. To be aligned with the National Developmnet Plan, in 2021, Gianyar Regency in Bali Province received national funding to build 36 village-scale waste management facilities. But less than 50% of the existing 129 village waste management facilities in Bali Province are well-managed and operated, even though the Source-Based Waste Management Regulation was issued in 2019.

The Organic Farming System Provincial Regulation was issued in 2019, but there has been a lack of application guidance from the government. The complex transition period from conventional farming methods to organic farming methods has caused the farmers to reluctantly switch their agricultural practices. The lack of intensive assistance and technical guidance on organic farming methods make it even harder to persuade the farmers to change to more sustainable agricultural practices.

Responding to the rise of waste management and organic farming systems in the Provincial Policy (the Desa Kerthi Bali Sejahtera Program issued by Bali's Governor), this project will support the Merah Putih Hijau Program to integrate village waste management projects with the organic farming movement. The innovation is rooted in the assumption that with more waste management facilities and better waste management there should be more organic compost available to support regenerative agriculture.

Project Beneficiaries:

  • 50 local farmers with 10 ha of farmland in 10 villages
  • 10 Local Waste Management Facilities
  • 1 Regional Compost Production Facility

Priority Development Area:

Economic Recovery

Link with Australian organisation: -

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