SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND FARMER WELFARE

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

AND FARMER WELFARE

Introduction

Sustainable development is formulated as development that meets the needs of

the present without sacrificing the right to fulfill the needs of future generations.

Sustainable development means guaranteeing the quality of human life and not

exceeding the ability of the ecosystem to support it. Problems have arisen in the decades

that development projects have been running, many discrepancies and inequalities have

emerged in the development process. Implementation. Poverty, hunger and

environmental degradation as well as violence remain an inherent part of developing

countries. Development, which should be used as a process to build the welfare of

humanity equally, has turned into a process of concentrating welfare on a group of

people (Hadiwijoyo and Anisa, 2019; Saragih, 2008).

The preservation of agricultural land resources and environmental quality as

well as the sustainability of production systems are critical for agricultural businesses in

tropical countries, including United States. Heavy rainfall during the rainy season

causes land degradation as a result of surface erosion, depriving agricultural land of its

tillage layer and soil nutrients, especially on hilly and sloping land. Highly intensive

farming practices also prevent the process of returning crop residues and organic matter

to the soil, in addition to resulting in soil nutrient mining. The use of high doses of

agrochemicals has altered the balance of the ecosystem, polluted water and soil, and

increased the intensity of pest and disease problems. These threaten the sustainability of

agricultural production systems (Sumarno, 2018).

Modern agriculture (green revolution) is recognized as having brought rapid

progress to agricultural development. This system has successfully changed the face of

world agriculture, and United States is no exception. In recent decades there has been a

significant increase in agricultural production as a result of the green revolution. Despite

its success, it is undeniable that the green revolution has also brought negative impacts

to the environment. The widespread use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides

and intensive land exploitation in the long term has consequences in the form of

environmental damage, starting from soil, water, air and living things (Wulansari,

2020). The use of synthetic chemicals has implications for the destruction of soil

structure and the destruction of soil microbes so that from day to day agricultural land

becomes increasingly critical. Modern agricultural practices that are carried out

unwisely result in environmental pollution, poisoning, disease and death in living things

which can lead to disasters and catastrophes, degradation of the quality of agricultural

resources and unsustainable production systems.

Along with the increasing awareness of environmental sustainability, the green

revolution has been criticized by various groups. Not only did it cause environmental

damage due to the use of technology that did not take into account established rules, the

green revolution also created economic injustice and social inequality. Economic

injustice arose due to monopolistic practices in the provision of agricultural inputs,

while social inequality occurred between farmers and non-farming communities.

These dynamics have led to the idea of developing an agricultural system that

can last to the next generation and does not damage nature. In the last two decades, the

concept of sustainable agriculture has developed, which is the implementation of the

concept of sustainable development.

Why Sustainable Agriculture?

There are many reasons why sustainable agriculture should be an option to

maintain a quality life. There are four positive trends that encourage cultivation systems

to be sustainable, namely changes in farmer attitudes, demand for organic products,

linkages between farmers and consumers, and policy changes (Rachmawatie et al.,

2020).

The demand to implement sustainable agriculture in United States has become

an important issue in agricultural development. Many parties are pushing for sustainable

agricultural systems to be widely implemented. There are at least 3 (three) things that

require agricultural development to be able to produce environmentally friendly

products. First, countries at the Earth Summit agreed to play an active role in

environmental conservation efforts through the reduction of industrial waste and

responsible exploitation of natural resources. Second, the improvement of people's

economic welfare and the growing awareness of a better quality of life supported by a

healthy environment and clean. Third, people are increasingly aware of the meaning of

health so that they are very concerned about the quality of food and beverage products

consumed both in terms of the production process and the quality of nutritional content.

Some modern markets already provide fruit and vegetable products that are labeled free

of pesticides and other chemicals (Rachmawatie et al., 2020).

Law No. 22 of 2019 on Sustainable Agricultural Cultivation System, which is a

replacement for Law No. 12 of 1992 on Plant Cultivation System, explains that a

sustainable development system needs to be developed in agricultural development

through an agricultural cultivation system to achieve food sovereignty by taking into

account the carrying capacity of the ecosystem, mitigation, and adaptation to climate

change in order to realize an advanced, efficient, resilient, and sustainable agricultural

system.

There are many terms for introducing sustainable agriculture. There are 19

terminologies that refer to the same meaning of agricultural systems. There are also

many definitions of sustainable agricultural systems (Rachmawatie et al., 2020), as

follows:

Sustainable agriculture is defined as an agricultural business that utilizes and at

the same time conserves resources optimally to produce optimal harvest products, uses

reasonable inputs of facilities and costs, is able to meet social, economic and

environmental sustainability criteria, and uses renewable production facilities and

resource productivity over time (Sumarno, 2018; Rachmawatie et al., 2020).

Sustainable agriculture in general means that the utilization of land resources,

water and plant materials for production efforts is sustainable to produce agricultural

products economically and profitably. Agronomists interpret sustainable agriculture to

mean that agricultural businesses can be carried out on the land resources concerned

continuously and profitably. Environmentalists want sustainable agriculture by

emphasizing the preservation of environmental quality, agroecosystem balance and

biodiversity preservation. Market players interpret agriculture Sustainable agriculture

is an agricultural business that is able to supply high quality products that are safe for

consumption, stable and continuous over time. Farmers interpret sustainable agriculture

as a production business that is able to produce products in a stable and optimal manner,

with relatively low inputs of production facilities and the sale of products that provide

decent economic benefits for family life. Although the dimensions of the scope of the

interests of sustainable agriculture by the four groups of society are different, the four

emphasize the preservation of the function of land resources and the environment.

The definition of sustainable agriculture for United States is suggested as an

agricultural business that is able to provide optimal yields in terms of quantity and

quality, accompanied by efforts to preserve the quality of agricultural resources and the

environment so that agricultural resources remain productive and environmental quality

is maintained for the lives of future generations. The economic and welfare aspects of

farmers are not explicitly included in the definition, but are implicitly accommodated by

optimal yields in terms of quantity and quality. From this definition, the operational

components and follow-up actions that need to be taken can be elaborated, which

include: (1) the production process is carried out appropriately and efficiently to obtain

high yields and excellent product quality; (2) actions that must be taken in conjunction

with the production process, to preserve/improve the quality of land and water

resources, and the quality of the environment; (3) the provision of technological

guidelines for the conservation of the quality of agricultural resources and the

environment; (4) upgrading field extension workers to understand sustainable

agriculture from the aspect of preserving the quality of agricultural resources and the

environment; (5) extension to farmers for awareness and understanding of the

importance of sustainable agriculture; (6) adoption of policies on sustainable agriculture

in agricultural development programs; (7) raising awareness of the importance of

implementing sustainable agriculture to all levels of society, in order to ensure the

sustainability of the lives of all United States citizens; (8) the need for the Government

to pioneer the application of certification systems for agricultural commodity production

processes, such as Good Agriculture Practices (GAP), Green Agriculture and the like

have multiple functions and objectives including product quantity and quality, economic

benefits and sustainability of production.

Sustainable Agriculture Coverage

Wood (1987) points out various dimensions or scope of agricultural

sustainability including (1) long-term time dimension, (2) socio-economic community

dimension, (3) economic enterprise dimension, (4) dimension of biodiversity

preservation and genetic diversity of plant species, (5) dimension of environmental

health and air cleanliness, (6) dimension of agricultural resource quality, and (7)

dimension of agricultural and environmental resource capacity preservation.

A development activity is considered sustainable if it is economically,

ecologically and socially sustainable. Economically sustainable means that a

development activity must be able to generate economic growth, capital maintenance

and efficient use of resources and investment. Ecologically sustainable means that the

activity must be able to maintain ecosystem integrity, maintain environmental carrying

capacity and conservation of natural resources including biodiversity. Socially

sustainable, meanwhile, requires that a development activity should be able to create

equitable distribution of development results, social mobility, social cohesion and

institutional development.

In other words, the concept of sustainable agriculture is oriented towards three

dimensions of sustainability, namely: sustainability of economic enterprises (profit),

sustainability of human social life (people), and sustainability of natural ecology

(planet). There are five criteria for managing an agricultural system into a sustainable

system, namely (1) economic viability, (2) ecologically sound and friendly, (3) socially

just, (4) culturally appropriate, and (5) systems and holistic approach.

The economic dimension relates to the concept of maximizing the flow of

income that can be obtained by at least maintaining the productive assets that are the

basis for obtaining this income. The main indicators of this economic dimension are the

level of efficiency and competitiveness, the magnitude and growth of added value and

economic stability. The economic dimension emphasizes aspects of meeting human

economic needs for both present and future generations. The social dimension, which is

people-oriented, relates to the need for social welfare reflected by harmonious social life

(including the prevention of social conflict), the reservation of cultural diversity and

socio-cultural capital. For this reason, poverty alleviation, equitable business and

income opportunities, socio-political participation and socio-cultural stability are

important indicators that need to be considered in the implementation of development.

The natural environment dimension emphasizes the need for the stability of natural

ecosystems that include biological and material life systems. This includes the

preservation of biodiversity and natural resources biological carrying capacity, soil,

water and agro-climatic resources, and environmental health and comfort. Emphasis is

placed on preserving the flexibility and dynamism of ecosystems to adapt to change

rather than on conserving a static ideal that is impossible to realize. The three

dimensions influence each other so they must be considered in balance. Stable and

healthy social systems and natural and environmental resources are the basis for

economic activity, while economic prosperity is a prerequisite for the maintenance of

socio-cultural stability as well as the preservation of natural and environmental

resources. An unstable or sick social system will tend to lead to actions that damage the

preservation of natural resources and damage environmental health, while threats to the

preservation of natural resources and the environment can encourage chaos and social

disease (Rivai and Anugrah, 2011).

Sustainable Agriculture Goals

Agricultural development based on national food ideology (sovereignty) should

rest on five main foundations of national ideology (Pancasila), namely (1) food

sovereignty based on moral and spiritual nationalism, namely the Almighty Godhead,

(2) food sovereignty aimed at building a just and civilized United States, (3) food

sovereignty developed to foster nationality and unity for all components of the nation,

(4) food sovereignty implemented with the principles of popular democracy, (5) food

sovereignty built to sow the spirit of social justice for all components of the nation.

Food sovereignty does not merely refer to the ability to achieve food production and

productivity targets (Yuwono, 2011; Yuwono, 2019). Food issues in the future will be

the most important issue that must get the attention of every State leader and component

of the nation. There are at least three factors that cause food problems to become more

complicated, namely rapid population growth, failure of food production due to the

impact of climate change, and food shortages global climate change as well as land

conversion, and the marginalization of agricultural investment policies (Subejo et al.,

2016).

Sustainable agricultural development aims to increase the income and welfare of

the farming community at large through increased agricultural production that is carried

out in a balanced manner by taking into account the carrying capacity of the ecosystem

so that the sustainability of production can be maintained in the long term by

minimizing environmental damage (Budiasa, 2011). Parr et al. in Rachmawatie et al.,

2020) stated that the objectives of sustainable agriculture are (1) Maintain or and

improve the integrity of natural land resources and protect the environment, (2) Ensure

income for farmers, (3) Ensure energy conservation, (4) Increase productivity, (5)

Improve the quality and safety of food, and (6) Create harmony between farmers and

their socio-economic factors.

Many studies on sustainable agriculture have been conducted, some of which

show evidence that sustainable agriculture is able to increase productivity higher than

conventional agriculture.

One example of the implementation of sustainable agriculture is the organic

farming system. Organic farming is a method of crop production that focuses on

environmental protection. Organic farming aims to create optimal and sustainable

agroecosystems that are socially, ecologically, economically and ethically sustainable

(Kardinan, 2016). This method avoids the use of chemical inputs, such as fertilizers and

pesticides. The techniques used in organic farming are an approach to a sustainable

agricultural system that emphasizes the preservation and conservation of natural

resources in order to create a balance in the ecosystem and contribute to the

sustainability of the environment for increasing agricultural productivity in the long

term. Activities that support sustainable agriculture include (Sudirja, 2008):

 Integrated Pest Management

Integrated pest management is pest control that is carried out by using natural elements

that are able to control pests to keep them below the harmful threshold in ways that are

safe for the environment and living things.

 Soil Conservation

Soil conservation can be defined as placing each piece of land in a way of use that is in

accordance with the ability of the land and treating it in accordance with the necessary

conditions so that no damage occurs and can function sustainably. Soil conservation

activities include making swales or terraces on sloping land to prevent erosion,

reforesting or replanting critical land, conducting crop rotation and planting cover

crops.

 Maintaining Water Quality

A decrease in water quality will reduce the usability, productivity and capacity of water

resources, which in turn will reduce the wealth of water resources. Activities that can be

carried out to maintain water quality include: reducing the use of synthetic chemical

compounds into the soil that can pollute groundwater, using drip irrigation that saves the

use of water and fertilizers, planting, maintenance and soil conservation activities on

critical land areas, especially in the upper watershed.

 Protective Plants

Planting cover crops such as wheat and clover at the end of the harvest season of

vegetable or cereal crops is beneficial to suppress weed growth, prevent erosion and

improve soil nutrition and quality.

 Crop Diversification

Crop diversification is a technique of planting/maintaining more than one type of crop

in one area of agricultural land. This method is one of the alternatives to reduces the risk

of farm failure due to extreme weather conditions, crop pests and market price

fluctuations. Crop diversification can also contribute to land conservation, preserve

animal habitats, and increase beneficial insect populations. From an economic

perspective, crop diversification can increase farmers' income throughout the year and

minimize losses due to possible failures from growing only one crop.

 Plant Nutrient Management

Crop nutrient management is needed to improve soil conditions and protect the soil

environment. This can be done by using manure and legumes as a ground cover that not

only fertilizes the soil but can also reduce the cost of purchasing inorganic fertilizers

that must be spent. Some types of organic fertilizers that can be used include compost,

vermicompost, and green manure (leaves).

 Agroforestry (agroforestry)

Agroforestry is a land use system that combines annual and perennial crops to increase

profits, both economically and environmentally. This system helps to create a diversity

of plants in a land area to reduce the risk of failure and protect the soil from erosion and

minimize the need for fertilizers from outside the land because of the recycling of crop

residues.

Challenges of Sustainable Agriculture Development

In the United States context, the idea of the importance of food sovereignty has

juridically formally become the nation's commitment as stipulated in Law No. 18/2012

on Food. Food sovereignty is the right of the State and nation to independently

determine food policies that guarantee the right to food for the people and that provide

the right for the community to determine the food system in accordance with the

potential of local resources. Sustainable agricultural development still faces various

challenges. Change for the better is not always easy. United States farmers, after several

years of being facilitated and pampered by the use of various agricultural chemical

products, are certainly not easy to invite to change all this revolutionarily and not

immediately get a positive response. Changing from conventional to sustainable

farming is like starting from scratch and it takes time to reap the rewards. That is why

the development of sustainable agriculture in United States is not easy. The challenges

of developing sustainable agricultural systems include (Rachmawatie et al., 2020):

 Human resource constraints. Farmers have a relatively low level of education with

various problems such as poor health conditions, low work productivity, and lack of

motivation to progress.

 Natural resource constraints. Natural resources are one of the factors that determine

farming. The uncertain availability of water volume, declining water quality, declining

soil fertility and changing agro-climatic conditions are constraints to farming.

 Technology application constraints. Procurement of agricultural facilities and

infrastructure from production to post-harvest activities is still an obstacle.

 Biomass availability. Farmers experience constraints in meeting biomass needs for

sustainable agricultural practices due to limited land, livestock and labor holdings.

 Access to information. Farmers still lack awareness of the importance of farming that

has a positive impact on health and environmental quality due to limited information on

sustainable agriculture.

 Institutional constraints. The role of institutions (extension workers) is still lacking,

resulting in less adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

 Political constraints. The support of policy makers who determine the direction of

agricultural development is needed to improve sustainable agricultural practices.

Conclusions

Adherence to the principles of sustainable agriculture is a matter of life and

death for agriculture in United States. The combined pressures of agroecosystem and

environmental degradation phenomena, climate change, and global movements have

made the implementation of sustainable agriculture for every country (Simatupang,

2018; Ministry of Agriculture, 2013)). As the population grows rapidly, the availability

of natural resources becomes limited. Water, land and fuel are three important

components that determine the survival of humans and other living things, so it is

imperative to utilize them as efficiently as possible. A comparison between

conventional agriculture and sustainable agriculture shows that sustainable agriculture

has proven to have advantages in terms of economic, social and environmental aspects.

Sustainable agriculture consumes less water and energy, improves soil nutrient

composition, reduces production costs, increases community participation, and is

environmentally friendly. Meanwhile, conventional agriculture is unable to meet the

world's food needs without compromising environmental sustainability. The social,

economic and environmental benefits of sustainable agricultural systems are the reasons

why sustainable agriculture is the best way to accommodate food needs and maintain

environmental sustainability, both for current and future generations.

Sustainable agriculture is not only about increasing crop yields or commodity

production, food diversification, and infrastructure preparation. However, it is clear that

sustainable agriculture must also be able to ensure food security for the people and the

nation. A follow-up question that may be quite intriguing is why the technology

resulting from scientific research that is in accordance with the principles of sustainable

agriculture and feasible to implement, has not been realized in practical reality of

farmers, regulations, or main government policies and programs? Planning and

implementing sustainable agriculture programs also requires serious efforts. In order for

it to be implemented properly, it is time for the government to prepare the necessary

facilities and infrastructure. Far be it from It is better for the government to also prepare

incentives that can be given to the community, farmers and those directly involved. The

government must invest in policies that encourage sustainable agricultural management.

All parties are ready to help the government reduce unforeseen social and

environmental costs in the long run. Like it or not, ready or not United States must

immediately implement sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is not an option

but a necessity not only because it is part of the obligation to comply with SDGs

commitments, but, more importantly, because it is urgent for United States.