Bali Back to Coffee ...

BALI, KOMPAS.com - After enjoying the sweetness of agriculture horticulture, vegetables, the government and citizens of the northern island of Bali now realize that their farms cause environmental damage. Now, they determined to return to the coffee plantations that are better suited to protect nature, as well as restore the heyday of coffee from Bali. 


If you travel around Pupuan (Tabanan Regency), Kintamani (Bangli District) to Kubu (Karangasem regency), on the island of Bali, now you are pampered by beautiful scenery, such as fruits, vegetables, and flowers. 


The beauty that would soon change. Not anymore by the expanse of green pepper, tomato, cabbage, strawberries, or cut flowers are colorful, but by the fragrant aroma of coffee flowers with green leaves. 


Yes, Bali Provincial Government together with the farmers in the north and east slopes of Bali that cycle is now indeed working to save the environment by returning to the coffee or go back to coffee. 


It is said again because of the coffee plant was once the belle of coffee farmers in the area which is a water catchment areas for the whole island of Bali, the region that stretches from Pupuan and Baturiti in Tabanan, Buleleng Regency Sukasada, evening in Badung Regency, Kintamani Bangli District , Rendang Karangasem District and Kubu. 


"The area was once the region all coffee crop development. But now the plant has been abandoned coffee farmers, "said the Head Plantation Made Sudharta Bali Province. 


Based on the record Plantation Office of Bali Province, total coffee plantation in the 1980's was 56,000 hectares, comprised of 38,000 hectares of robusta coffee land and 18,000 hectares of arabica coffee. Now, the total land area of ​​31,400 hectares of coffee plantations live! 


In its heyday, was the leading export of coffee plantations from Bali. In 1990, the volume of exports still reached 6100 tons or 92 percent of total exports of plantation Bali. However, the contribution of the slump. 3.5 tons in 2005 to live, and in 2010 its production even just only 3484 tons. 


Bali Coffee has even recognized a number of organic certification bodies, because it has a different taste and aroma of other fellow coffee-producing regions. 


Switch to vegetable 


Declining coffee prices in international markets to the level of farmers in the 1990s made farmers slowly began to switch to vegetable crops and fruits short-lived. The peak occurred in the 2000s, when coffee prices decline very burdensome farmers. 


Coffee prices have touched USD 6,000 per kilogram for dried beans. Whereas previously Rp 20,000's. 


"Farmers have no other choice at that time, besides cutting down coffee trees and replace with vegetables. Let the results more quickly. Because of this economic pressure, "said Nyoman Suta (50), one of strawberry farmers in the region Pancasari, Buleleng, which is still maintaining one hectare of coffee. 


The government was forced to close the office coffee development units in the area Baturiti, Tabanan. 


Start conscious 


Obtaining organic certification for coffee from Bali in the year 2008 bring Plantation Office of Bali that potential Balinese coffee is still good. So, since the provincial government of Bali to try to restore the past glory of coffee and invite the community to maintain the natural order to avoid a disaster. Moreover, landslides and floods began to occur frequently in the province. 


Topography surrounding catchment areas on the island is rocky, steep, and the slope-slope. Even the slope of the land is nearly 45 degrees. When the coffee has been cleared and replaced by seasonal vegetables that require land loose and clean from litter, the soil was no longer able to store water. 


Environmental researchers from the University of Udayana, Wayan Suarna, explain, changes in vegetation from coffee to horticulture crops led to a number of Bali-prone areas of erosion and landslides. "Plants of coffee is the most effective types of plants to prevent erosion," said Suarna. 


According to him, the coffee plant which has a similar shape to make canopy rain water does not directly fall to the ground with a bang. It is able to maintain soil fertility that are not easily eroded. In addition, the coffee plants are also capable of binding water. Therefore, the presence of coffee plants in water catchment areas are very important. 


When replaced vegetable crops, direct rain water flowing on the surface to the slopes with her topsoil. This is what causes landslides to unexpected floods. 


Note Compass. In January this year alone, landslide and flood happened 29 times. The victim, 5 people died, 15 people were injured, and 57 homes were damaged. 


The disaster occurred in all water catchment area which has now been turned into fields of vegetables and fruits. Among other flash floods in Tukad (river) Wanasari. 


So, Bali Plantation Office continues to encourage replanting of coffee. By 2010, the Bali provincial government budgeted $ 2, 4 billion from the budget of the Region for the cultivation of coffee. 


The result, in 2010 recorded a new coffee planting area 2611 acres, both robusta and arabica. In 2011, the targeted 1020 hectares of new crop. And, will it every year at least 1,000 hectares per year. 


Communities also participate in self planted with coffee seedlings free from the government. Moreover, the current coffee prices also continued to increase and tend to be stable. 


Government-farmer cooperation is hopefully provide maximum results. Save the environment while boosting the economy.