Proceedings of the Asia regional workshop on the

international institution such as FAO/WHO, US-EPA, OECD etc. Nowadays, any pesticide product
that is registered in <strong>the</strong> country bears international standard as it was evaluated quite strictly when it
applied for registration.
Pesticides application in Indonesia
From <strong>the</strong> perspective <strong>of</strong> crop management, <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> pesticides will be only <strong>the</strong> last
alternative as <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> IPM has been socialized as well as implemented to most Indonesian
farmers, including those working on estate crops. Field schools were established at considerable
number <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> production center throughout <strong>the</strong> country. The implementation <strong>of</strong> IPM concept was
successfully done except for those who are cultivating crops in <strong>the</strong> remote areas. There were
hundreds thousands <strong>of</strong> farmers trained on IPM concept and farmer’s understanding on such a concept
was quite high.
Due to such a consideration, de-regulation on pesticides registration was issued on <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong>
IPM approach. Meanwhile, government has <strong>of</strong>fered industry to apply for new registration for <strong>the</strong>ir
products as it may create more products available in <strong>the</strong> market, hence it brings about more
competition, empowering bargaining position <strong>of</strong> farmers, availability <strong>of</strong> good but affordable
products, guarantee availability and so on. However, all marketed pesticide products are subject to
review as <strong>the</strong>y indicate negative evidence that harm people or environment when it is applied not
complying with IPM concept.
Even more items are now available in <strong>the</strong> market, but in fact not all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m are really
absorbed. It is going to be back on <strong>the</strong> market mechanism where <strong>the</strong> best and most competitive
product can remain in <strong>the</strong> market to help farmers. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m seem not too attractive to use.
Pesticides may help increase <strong>the</strong> quality <strong>of</strong> agricultural products in many ways as its use quite
large in quantity. Some pesticides have to be applied on <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> interval application in case <strong>of</strong>
preventing crop from suffering from a number <strong>of</strong> major diseases. Most horticultural products are
considered as high-economic commodity that needs to be more protected from pest and diseases
ra<strong>the</strong>r than any o<strong>the</strong>r agricultural commodity.
Meanwhile, pest and diseases problems on crops occur all <strong>the</strong> time at any time since crop are
always <strong>the</strong>re. Planting season all <strong>the</strong> year round obviously provide sufficient food for pest. This
situation help promote threatening any cultivated crop from loss due to pests. Therefore, pesticides
application may not be held from use what so ever.
Progress <strong>of</strong> registered product
Pesticides intended to register varies from household pesticides to Plant Growth Regulator
(PGR). Among <strong>the</strong>m, herbicide is <strong>the</strong> highest in number on registration following by insecticide,
fungicide, rodenticide etc. Based on our statistical data by end <strong>of</strong> 2004 <strong>the</strong> total numbers <strong>of</strong>
registered pesticides were some 1 281 products. The following Table shows total registration in
2002, 2003 and 2004.
Out <strong>of</strong> 1 281 products recorded in 2004, 209 were new registrations. New registrations have
increased from year after year. Within <strong>the</strong> past three years <strong>the</strong> trend <strong>of</strong> new registration has grown at
least 13–15 percent per annum. However, such a record is not available in <strong>the</strong> market since some <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong>m are not ready to be launched. The average availability is about 45–60 percent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> total
registered product.
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