The Role of IPB University in Disseminating Technology and the Success of the Bumper Harvest of Ciasem Farmers
Ciasem Girang Village, Subang, West Java, suddenly became the talk of netizens on online and social media. This was because in October 2023, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, visited the village. He stated that the rice harvest obtained by the farmers was quite satisfying, with a yield of 9 tons per hectare.
The President also mentioned that this good harvest would add to the national rice reserves. The success of the harvest is partly attributed to the efforts made by the students of the Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University during the implementation of the Community Service Learning Program (KKN-T), by understanding in depth and identifying the causes of previous crop failures in Ciasem Girang due to attacks by the Rice Stem Borer (RSB) and rat infestations.
“The RSB pest has indeed been a special concern for the Faculty of Agriculture. IPB University itself has conducted research on this pest for a long time, leading to the discovery of various field-tested control technologies,” said Prof Suryo Wiyono, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University.
He further mentioned that these technologies include group egg collection methods and seed bio-immunization. Seed bio-immunization technology is the latest technique that can enhance plant immunity using endophytic fungi and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR).
“The success is evident with the control of stem borers and rats in MT1, resulting in a total yield of around 7-8 tons per hectare in March-April 2023. This KKN-T activity is fully supported by the Technical Implementation Unit of Ciasem Subang,” he added.
Through this technology, the farmers in Ciasem have experienced an increase in income due to the improved productivity, reaching 9-12 tons per hectare for the October 2023 harvest. Up to now, this technology is still being implemented by the farmers. The collaboration between IPB University academics, students, farmers, and the local government is a key element for the Ciasem rice farmers’ success, even surpassing the average yield,” concluded Prof Suryo. (*/Lp) (IAAS/Hap)
