REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- Bali Province encouraged the enhancement of quality and value-added of local agricultural products. Governor of Bali, I Made Mangku Pastika, said Bali would be going to intensify the production of organic farming.

"We asked all community, especially entrepreneurs and businessmen in supermarkets, hotels and restaurants to use more local agricultural products in a variety of business activities," Pastika stated.

The agricultural sector was not only foods, but also providers of industrial raw materials, labor absorbing, environmental conservation, and preservation of traditional Balinese culture. The resilience of the domestic market through organic farming, added Pastika, can produce environmentally friendly and safe products to be consumed by the public.

The provincial government was gradually developing organic farming through the Integrated Farming Systems (Simantri). The target of Simantri was to produce healthy, safe, and nutritious agricultural products.

Head of Department of Agriculture and Foodstuffs of Bali, Ida Bagus Wisnu Ardhana, assessed the need for local agricultural product to be promoted in the midst of competition with imported agricultural products. He facilitated the signing of a memorandum of understanding with a number of parties for marketing local products.

"Marketing cooperation of agricultural products was conducted between agribusiness sub-terminal (STA) of Sari Buah Padagan village, Pupuan, Tabanan with UD Manggis Sari, and Indonesia Trade Company," explained Ardhana.

Organic farming in Bali, said Ardhana, was using organic fertilizers and no longer use pesticides in the production process. At first, farmers who implemented organic farming faced difficulties, but it became easy after that.

Organic farming systems were able to improve the welfare of farm by maintaining soil fertility, environmental sustainability, and reducing pollution. Organic farming could also reduce the use of chemical fertilizers as small as possible.