US Deputy Agriculture Secretary admits being amazed to see traditional agriculture in Jatiluwih

Posted On: October 1, 2022

TABANAN, Nusa Bali
United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture (Mentan), Jewel H Bronaugh, said he was amazed to see the tradition and long history of the traditional farming system in Jatiluwih, Penebel District, Tabanan, which applies practices sustainable and is able to anticipate various climatic changes. situations.

Bronaugh said the experience of directly seeing the rice terraces complex at Jatiluwih, which marked the conclusion of the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting (AMM) in Bali, was an unforgettable moment.

“This long tradition in Jatiluwih is incredible. We must respect this heritage, because the tradition of agriculture here has existed since the 9th century. This kind of tradition has been nurtured for years by farmers, and it’s also what sustains the Indonesian economy,” Bronaugh said answering Antara’s question on the sidelines of his Jatiluwih business on Thursday (9/29). /2022).

On the same occasion, he assessed that maintaining traditional farming methods was not easy, so he was impressed by the farmers of Jatiluwih who knew how to preserve the traditions of organic farming and minimal pollution, because the rice fields of this place were still plowed by cows, not tractors.

“We are here to see how the tradition has survived, the story behind it and how the irrigation system works here. It was an experience I will never forget,” Bronaugh said.

Bronaugh, during his visit, also explained that digital agriculture, which has become one of the central themes of the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting (AMM), has become increasingly relevant in the face of methods traditional farms in Jatiluwih that have proven to be sustainable and able to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

He explained that digital agriculture and traditional agriculture are not two opposite things, because they complement each other.

Using technology in digital agriculture can help traditional farmers, like in Jatiluwih, increase land and water use efficiency.

“Digital technology can also help farmers anticipate climate change while increasing their productivity. The two are the perfect match, tradition and technology which is the future of agriculture,” he said.

Bronaugh and other foreign officials, including Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau, Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Qu Dongyu have seen first-hand traditional farming practices in Jatiluwih, Penebel District, Tabanan.

The Jatiluwih rice field area, which includes Ulun Danu Batur Temple, Lake Batur, River Landscapes and Watershed Temples (DAS) at Pakerisan, Caturrangga Batukaru and Taman Ayun Temple, was designated by the UNESCO as World Heritage since 2012.

During the visit, foreign delegates who attended the AMM G20 were also invited to sample Jatiluwih delicacies and beverages, including brown rice tea. *