An Organic Sertification of Organic Salak Pondoh (Salacca zallaccavar.pondoh) : South Sumatera Experience

Because of Salak Pondoh in Pagar Alam City of South Sumatera Province was cultivated organically, so they need to follow the organic certification program conducted by the Department of Agriculture Food Crops and Horticulture South Sumatra Province to get a quality assurance of food safety certificate. The aims of an organic sertification programs are to protect consumers from quality fraud; protect producers that has implemeted of organic food systems from others who also claim to be a producer of organic products; and to preserve the natural environment. The organic certification comprises several stages namely an identification of land certification process in conformance document quality system, internal inspections, external inspection of West Sumatra Organic Certification Agency and technical committee meeting for approval of acquisition of organic certification. As much as 14 ha of farm proposed by farmer groups of Salak Dempo, only 5.25 Ha which obtain organic sertification. Land that is not certified organic due to the land have not yet implement 100 % of organic cultivation, such as the flow of water used is still contaminated farm land which are planted with carrots and potatoes; there is no barrier between Salak crops and conventional vegetable crops; and the peresence of herbicide spray cans around the sites. Certification organic is expected to build the image of Indonesia as well as organic products to make that the Indonesian government as a “Kitchen Organic Food” in the world and go organic in 2015.