Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has asked the Serang district government to make the district a center for the development of high-yielding soybean seeds of the Dega and Migo varieties.
The seeds were created by Professor Ali Zum Mashar, a researcher from Bogor Agricultural Institute.
“We have asked the head of Serang district, Ratu Tatu Chasanah, to cooperate with Professor Mashar for the development of high-productivity (high-yielding) soybean seeds,” the minister informed while observing a soybean harvest in Rancasanggal village in Cinangka sub-district, Serang district, Banten, on Wednesday.
The government has been working hard to achieve self-sufficiency in soybeans and cut dependence on imports, Limpo noted. So far, soybeans are still being imported from the United States and Brazil.
However, the yield of Dega and Migo seed varieties in Serang district could reach four to five tons per hectare, which would be higher than the yield from the same quantity of seeds obtained from the United States and Brazil, he pointed out.
“We are optimistic that Indonesia can meet the availability of soybeans by using these varieties,” Limpo said.
Meanwhile, Prof. Mashar, said that the agricultural institute will cooperate with the Serang district government on the development of Dega and Migo soybean seeds to support soybean self-sufficiency in the country.
This collaboration will later become a model for the development of high-yielding soybean seeds in Indonesia.
Prof. Mashar has been conducting research on high-yielding soybean seed varieties for 15 years with the support of the local government. Currently, his party is receiving support from Minister Limpo.
The Dega and Migo soybean seeds are capable of yielding 4 to 5 tons of soybeans per hectare, compared to other soybean seeds, which yield only 1.3 to 2.5 tons per hectare.
The use of high-yielding varieties of soybean seeds will bring benefits to farmers with a good soybean price in the market of Rp12 thousand per kilogram compared to the import price of Rp10 thousand.
“We hope that this cooperation will start the collaboration between governors, mayors, and other regional heads throughout Indonesia,” he said.
Source: Antara News