Focus on Environment

<strong>Focus</strong> Environ (2016)
Sustainable Agriculture through Organic Farming
department introduced the SOM to promote
sustainable development. SOM is a
certification programme to recognize farms
which cultivate crops organically according
to the criteria and requirement described in
the scheme. The standard is based on the
Malaysian Standard, MS 1529: 2001. In the
context of paddy farming, KOREF and Sri
Lovely Farm are the two certified organic
farms in Malaysia.
METHODOLOGY
This study employed a qualitative research
using the observation and interview
approaches. The observations and interviews
were carried out at Sik, Kedah and Bandar
Baru Tunjong, Kelantan during 23 July 2009
until 14 September 2013. Some of the
interviews, by the interviewees who
allowed, were recorded by videotaping.
However, all the interview answers were
written down by the researcher in notebook.
Also, the phone calls were used to obtain
further information from the respondents.
The selected respondents were the farmers
of different levels including supervisor and
managing director. One of the respondents’
philosophies was stated as “the farming
ought to safeguard the eco-system bestowed
by God.”
The first location of this field study
was Bandar Baru Tunjong in Kelantan
owned by the Sunnah Tani Sdn. Bhd. It was
started as a pilot project in May 2009 with 8
hectares of land at Kampung Tunjong in
Bandar Baru Tunjong by adopting the SRI
method as its paddy farming practice.
The second location of this field
study was at the Sik area in Kedah owned by
the Koperasi Agro Belantik Berhad (a local
cooperative organization). The project was
aimed to enhance the income of the local
people through the development of vacant
Othman and Hasan
land. This project was kicked off on
December 24, 2009 using 32 hectares of
land of Kampung Lintang, Kampung
Kubang, Kampung Surau, Kampung Pinang,
Kampung Bukit Batu, Kampung Belantik
Dalam and Kampung Belantik Luar. The
interviews were conducted with the
managing director (Farmer 1) and his two
assistants (Farmer 2 and Farmer 3).
The main questions asked during the
interviews were related to the steps involved
in paddy farming practices including land
preparation, seed selection, water
management, fertilizer use, weed, pest and
disease control, and harvesting. Data related
to paddy farming, mainly in sustainable
practices were compared and analyzed the
adaption criteria of SOM. It is a standard
that sets out the requirements for the
production, the labeling and claims for
organically produced foods. The
requirements cover all stages of production,
including farm operations, preparation,
storage, transport, and labeling. Further
details are explained below:
i. Land and soil management
■ Farms shall take reasonable and
appropriate measures to minimize loss of
topsoil through minimal tillage, contour
plowing, crop selection, maintenance of
cover crops and other management practices
that conserve soil.
■ Land clearing and preparation through
burning vegetation, e.g. slash and burn, shall
only be allowed and restricted to the
minimum when other measures are not
feasible.
■ Burning of crop residues, e.g. straw
burning is prohibited except in case of need
to control a serious insect or disease
infestation.
■ The fertility and biological activity of the
soil should be maintained or increased,
using appropriate methods by a) cultivation
ISBN: 978-967-14475-0-5; eISBN: 978-967-14475-1-2 41