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| UMM Potato Seeds trains millennial farmers (Photo: Special). |
East Java is one of the major potato production centres in Indonesia. Probolinggo, Pasuruan, and Lumajang dominate potato-producing areas. Therefore, the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) Potato Seeds trained millennial farmers who are members of Gapoktan from four districts of Probolinggo, namely Sumber District, Krucil District, Sukapura District, and Lumbang District.
"Currently, the need for quality seed potatoes can only be met by 15%. Therefore, the presence of the UMM team will certainly provide benefits and also increase the production of good seeds," said Ir. Didyk Rudi Prasetya, MMA as Head of the Agriculture and Food Security Office of the East Java Provincial Government when opening the training event, on September 21.
There were several materials taught to the farmers. Starting from the production of breeder seeds through in vitro culture, acclimatization of potato plantlets, and production of potato seeds in plant cuttings to the production of G0 potato seeds in a screen house. Dr. Ir. Syarif Husen, MP, always provides material and experience. He is the manager of UMM Potato Seeds, a researcher, as well as a UMM lecturer.
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The training was held for two days. Experts even carried out demonstrations directly so that farmers could immediately practice. They were also invited to see the UMM Potato Seeds laboratory to see the equipment and products that have been produced.
"This training is expected to increase the knowledge of seed potato production by millennial farmers. So that there will be self-sufficiency in seed potatoes in the Probolinggo district in the future," Syarif hoped.
On the other hand, the training was appreciated by the participants, including Bima. He was happy to be invited to see and follow the seed development process. He even went to Pujon Kidul to observe the screen house. "We were very enthusiastic on this second day because we could directly experience the steps in producing quality seed potatoes. We can also practice directly with the help of experts," he said.
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The participants were also trained on how to acclimate potato plantlets from the culture bottles to the gauze house and then how to produce seed potatoes as cuttings taken from the mother plant. Finally, planting the seed cuttings so that they can produce G0 seed potatoes.
"At the end of the activity, we were invited to harvest G0 seeds and seed treatment before being stored in the warehouse so that the seeds do not suffer damage during the storage period. Hopefully, the knowledge we get can be useful," Bima said. (*/wil/fajr)
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