Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine January 2020 | Page 56

Lifestyle / Flavours
the National Accreditation Body of
Indonesia. With the certificate issued by
LSO, the organic rice sold in stores is
then guaranteed to have been grown
under the standardised organic system.
“Consuming organic rice does not only
make us healthier, but also helps to take
care of nature, and at the same time
improve the welfare of the farmers, for
the price of organic rice is twice that of
the conventional product,” says Ahmad
Jatika, the founder of NOSC (Nusantara
Organic SRI Center). SRI stands for
‘System of Rice Intensification’; this
system results in a faster and bigger
harvest, yet requires less input in terms
of water, conventional pesticides,
fertilisers, etc.
NOSC was established in 2005 in
Nagrak, Sukabumi, West Java. As a
nature enthusiast, Jatika is greatly
concerned with caring for the
environment. A book about organic
farming, revealing how soil suffers
due to consecutive treatment with
conventional fertilisers, had moved him
to act. Through classroom and field
training by NOSC, farmers are
encouraged to grow rice using only
natural processes within the SRI
system. Collaborating with city
governments in Morowali, Central
Kalimantan and Flores, NOSC has
guided hundreds of farmers.
1
 onsuming organic rice does not only make us
C
healthier, but also helps to take care of nature, and at
the same time improve the welfare of the farmers...
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Asked about the superiority of organic
rice compared to conventional rice,
Jatika says: “Besides the absence
of pesticide residues, the cooked
organic rice has a longer shelf life.
Based on my experience, it is still good
to eat even after 24 hours at room
temperature. The cooked organic rice
has a softer and more moist texture,
so it tastes more delicious.”
Consuming organic rice is like killing
two birds with one stone: in addition to
the nutritional benefits, its production
may help conserve the environment for
future generations.
1. Organic rice is believed to be more
nutritious and have less of an
environmental impact.
2. SRI farming leads to a faster and
bigger harvest.