Purwaceng is a multipurpose crop for development of green agro-industry, since it will support the demand of agroindustry of herbs as well as conserve soil from erosion. Purwaceng (Pimpinella pruatjan Molkenb) is a herbal plant that is popular as Indonesian herbs used as aphrodisiac, diuretic, and tonic. Its root contains substance that is believed beneficial to boost stamina and sexual endurance. Nowadays, the purwaceng get a high price due to lack of supply whilst demand from the herbs industry has never been fulfilled. Unfortunately, the plant is considered as endangered species that is endemically found particularly in Dieng Plateau. In 2013, the plant gained patent for the Dieng Plateau as Geographic Indication of purwaceng. Extensive cultivation of the plant in a wider area of Dieng Plateau and its surroundings is very promising. For the last two decades, Dieng plateau has been utilized for potato cultivation that contributed to the horrible soil erosion problem. The said farming practice is contradictive to the soil conservation rule. It is on this premise that planting of purwaceng can be very useful to counter the effect of
environmental degradation issue in the Dieng Plateau. This is due to its morphological and physiological characteristics, where purwaceng may be cultivated as cover crop for bare land as well as mixed cropping under tree shading. It will reduce run off of rainfall water and increase infiltration that in turn will reduce soil erosion. This paper will discuss efforts that should be done to promote purwoceng for increasing production as well as reducing soil erosion in Dieng Plateau.