Approach and practices conventional agriculture who implemented in our state represents agricultural practice not follow development principles sustainable. After about 50 years we implement and develop conventional farming, a line of a long list of negative impacts have been reported and raised by various institutions, researchers and individuals at the level of international, national and local levels. Various effects of ecological, economic, social, cultural and public health community of the world will increasingly dubious sustainability of agricultural ecosystems in sustaining human life in the future.
Conventional agriculture based by approach industrial with orientation agriculture agribusiness large scale, capital intensive dense technological innovation, planting seed / varieties crop superior uniformly, well dependence on input production from abroad who wasteful energy nonrenewable, including use various types agrochemical (fertilizer and pesticides) and agricultural machinery.
Pragmatic approach of short-term increase in food production tends to push and improve the practice of draining and exploitation of natural resources on a large scale and continuous resulting in decreasing the carrying capacity of the agricultural environment in supporting agricultural activities.
Indeed the application of conventional farming in the early stages can improve agricultural productivity and food are real, but then the production efficiency decreases due to various adverse side effects. Some side effects of conventional agricultural approaches and implementation include:- Increased surface erosion, flooding and landslides;- Decrease in soil fertility;- Losing organic materials soil;- Salinization of land and irrigation water and soil sediment- Increased water and soil pollution due to chemical fertilizers, pesticides, domestic sewage- Residues of pesticides and other hazardous materials in the environment and food that threaten public health and market rejection.- Degradation of agricultural biodiversity, the loss of traditional wisdom and culture of local plants.- Contribute to global warming- Increased unemployment- Decrease in employment, increasing social inequality and the number of landless farmers in rural areas- Dependence on government and corporate farmers / agro-chemical industry
Minimize RiskAware of the adverse effects of conventional agriculture, the global environmental community has long agreed on the implementation and development of the concept of sustainable agriculture as the realization of sustainable development in agriculture and food sector through Chapter 14 of Agenda 21 entitled Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD), which is the agenda of the various courses of action sustainable development agreed by world leaders at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Agenda 21 details the various concepts and action program for sustainable agriculture that need to be implemented by all countries. According to Agenda 21, the concept of sustainable agriculture is a multi-dimensional concept that includes the achievement of the goals of ecological, social and economic. First, strengthening the viability and economic life in the countryside are the foundation for providing the means to defend their social and environmental functions. Second, maintain environmental quality is also a necessary prerequisite for the development of long-term economic potential in rural areas. Thirdly, integrity ecology and value landscapes rural who makes countryside as tourism area and living place tranquil and enjoyable that can attract investors for inculcate capital.
Then where role general insurance within Agenda 21 this?First, within the framework of strengthening the feasibility and economic life in rural, general insurance should be promoted as a new form of the program "social solidarity" that in the past proven to be effective boost the economy. "Social Solidarity" is a reinforcement model feasibility and economic life typical of Indonesia, where all stakeholders agreed to set aside a little of what he has for the common good. Money collected bit by bit this is the initial capital to start a business together (in this case to buy general insurance policies).
Secondly, to maintain environmental quality, hence general insurance can proposed as program reduction Carbon and environmental cost must issued agricultural firms, plantation and forestry. The principle of "those who use more should pay more" must be applied strictly in accordance with the adage "Poluters pay more" - the parties that use materials of non-renewable energy have to pay premiums of general insurance in order to maintain environmental quality and clean air programs.
Third, as the guardian of the ecological integrity and value of rural landscapes, the public insurance program commonly known as flood insurance, fire insurance or burglary and robbery insurance, etc. can be more socialized with a more populist language.
General Insurance and Farmers EmpowermentAbout farmer empowerment program, Agenda 21 makes a special chapter is Chapter 32 entitled Strengthening the Role of Farmers which mentioned the farmers through various non-governmental organizations of farmers demanding that they participate in any decision-making about how the food crops dibudi-empowering, processed, traded and how benefits derived from the world food system, national and local levels can be distributed fairly. Government and other parties including the private sector and universities need to assist and facilitate efforts to encourage self-reliance of farmers and farmer groups with educational methods and effective training of farmers. This is where general insurance can be more instrumental in underwriting system for integrated pattern such as in Bali Subak, villages in West Sumatra, or ngunduh in Java.
With the guarantee system in case of crop failures force majeure, then the general insurance can be more involved in efforts to improve quality of life for farmers as mandated by Chapter 32's. Because as an integral part of the guarantee system, the role of general insurance becomes more widely than ODA and Pawnshop since general insurance also facilitate efforts to encourage self-reliance of farmers and farmer groups through awareness of their rights and obligations of the holders of the policy.
General Insurance and Food SecurityThe rain which flushed all over Indonesia during the lead disaster everywhere. Still have not vanished from the eyes of the floods, La Nina expected to threaten the national rice production. The main problem of national rice production is not just a matter of wet and dry, or flood and drought. More than that is this nation's food security. Although a variety of problems plagued the national rice production, but according to figures III Central Bureau of Statistics forecast, paddy production (dry milled rice) in 2007 reached 57.05 million tons. Details of the risk analysis has been presented by the Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono in Kompas dated January 4, 2008 so that the prospect of general insurance in the agricultural field was wide open.
Meanwhile, Director General of Marketing of Agricultural Products, Djoko Said Damarjati explained, the government is currently running the movement of post harvest handling and marketing of agricultural products. If movement capable save potency lose outcome until 2.5 percent from total potency lose results along harvest amounting 20.4 percent, there will additional production GKG 1.4 million tons or equivalent 2 ounces for every resident Indonesia. Bulog as the spearhead of price stabilization and food security can not just sit on my hands. Therefore, Bulog must be smart to anticipate the possibility of economic turmoil, social and political effect of rice price hikes later. For this reason, public insurance can play an active role in maintaining national food security, through the minimization of risk.
The statement is certainly not the government's political strings attached. Moreover, in 2008 is close to the election. Government certainly not will attract words because could make public trust decreased, and this unprofitable political positions ruler. So the insurance business is open enough for the agribusiness and agro-industry.
General Insurance and Poverty Reduction ProgramCommunity of farmers and fishermen who are poor is certainly not bankable. So the system is proven successful personal guarantee adopted by Grameen Bank in Bangladesh to be adopted here. The system also has been socialized by Bung Hatta, Mr Cooperatives of Indonesia, through the cooperative movement in Indonesian prisons. Unfortunately, a growing movement from below, now made into a top-down with the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs.
To overcome this problem of structural poverty, the general Asurasi can play a role in reducing the impact of fluctuations in agricultural commodity prices (minimize risk) as defined in the operational Bank Financial Institution, which is needed is a personal guarantee or a group guarantee that constraint "not bankable" can be breached. Thus, society farmer and fishermen who "not bankable" can remain have access capital and marketing.
According to Peter F. Drucker: Approach problems with your ignorance, not your experience (Solve the problem with what you ignore, not with your experience) and If you keep doing what worked in the past, You're going to fall (if we still work according to routines, so be prepared to fail) - general insurance should be able to function with a personal guarantee, without the contribution to the alleviation of poverty will be very minimal.
