Organic cultivation of medicinal crops in the efforts to support the sustainable availability of Jamu raw materials

Abstract

Jamu is an Indonesian herbal medicinal product, as part of the traditional natural health care of Indonesia's national cultural heritage. Jamu raw material consists of a single preparation or combination of several types of nutritious medicinal plants, collected from nature and cultivated by farmers. Nowadays, medicinal crops farmers rarely apply organic cultivation on their land. Along with the increase in public awareness and the global demand of efficacious but safe herbal products, the organic cultivation of medicinal plants is a necessity. In organic farming, crop cultivation relies on the use of organic (natural) ingredients and avoids the use of synthetic chemical inputs (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers), and genetically modified organism seeds. The integrity of the material produced is guaranteed by third parties through the issuance of organic certificates after going through a series of audit processes on documents and production processes in the field and storage area known as organic certification. Certification of organic plant cultivation in Indonesia has been regulated in SNI 6729: 2016 concerning the Organic Farming System. Many researchs found that medicinal plants cultivated organically could improve efficacious compounds. Research to compile GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) for medicinal plants cultivated organically in Indonesia needs to be encouraged to support the sustainable supply and efficacious of Jamu raw materials.