Abstract
Organic farming is a system of agricultural practice that utilizes natural materials, such as compost, biofertilizers and natural pesticides as well as locally adapted plant varieties. Organic products are safe for human beings, and organic farming contributes to environmental preservation. In Bantul regency, Indonesia, organic agriculture as an integrated movement began in the 2000s. This study examines the development of organic rice farming in 5 subdistricts of Bantul regency (Bantul, Pandak, Sanden, Piyungan and Banguntapan). The observations and data analysis showed that although the productivity of organic rice is increasing year by year in these subdistricts, the area of fields under organic cultivation and the yields of organic rice have remained low because of problems arising from farmers, extension workers, markets and local government. In order to further develop organic rice farming, it is recommended that the capacity of farmers be enhanced through field schools on organic rice farming, education and training for extension workers, increased guidance for farmers on exactly how much compost to add to soil as natural pesticides, and establishment of networks between local government and non-governmental organizations on both the technical and non-technical sides.
