CLOSED FARMING SYSTEM: AN ALTERNATIVE POVERTY ERADICATION IN KABUPATEN REJANG LEBONG, BENGKULU PROVINCE, INDONESIA

Bengkulu is classified as an under-developed province due to high poverty percentage in Indonesia. Rejang Lebong with its basis on agriculture is part of the province that shares the high number of poverty in Bengkulu. The poverty eradication in Rejang Lebong should be focused on the rural area in which 75 percent of poverty taken place. It should be developed an alternative approach to reduce the dependency of farmers on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the main cost of agricultural input in an-organic farming system. The aim of project is to develop a closed farming system in which entirely input of agricultural production derived from the internal villages and to compare growth and yield components of 20 genotypes of sweet corn in order to obtain genotypes suitable to organic farming. It is therefore the combination between dairy farm and vegetable farm was introduced, including the establishment of composting technology. Since 2013 the research team conducting breeding program in sweet corn. Twenty (20) varieties of sweet corn were initially evaluated its characteristics in Rejang Lebong, and also each of them will be selected for another 6 years to obtain hybrids suitable to organic farming. Results show that the production organic farming still faced obstacles particularly due to the high degree of pest and' diseases occurrence. Eventually, the production is obviously under the in-organic farming (conventional) system, but as the organic vegetable products have been appreciated by consumers, the farmers still earned money due to high price and low input cost. Characteristics assessment of twenty sources genetic of sweet corn also came across an occurrence of leaves disease ((Helminthosporium turcicum). Genotypes of Raja, Gendis, Secada F1, King Sweet, and Talenta had better growth, higher yield and more adaptable to agro- ecosystem organic farming in high land (Kabupaten Rejang Lebong). Genotypes of Raja, Gendis, Secada F1, King Sweet, and Talenta have potential to be developed as hybrid for organic farming in high land. The program, therefore, should consistently convince the organic farmers by improving the technology in handling the plant pests and diseases