Nusantara Fruit Seed Center as the Pillar for “Orange Revolution”
Center for Tropical Horticulture (PKHT) of the Institute of Research and Community Empowerment of Bogor Agricultural University (LPPM IPB) and PT Bogor Life Science and Technology (BLST) IPB, was supported by Directorate General of Innovation Strengthening – Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti ) RI inaugurated the "Pusat Industri Bibit Buah Nusantara Center for Industrial Fruit Seedlings Nusantara". The event, entitled "Start Up Industri Pengembangan Bibit Buah Tropis untuk Mendukung Program Nasional Revolusi Oranye = Start Up Tropical Fruits Industry Development to Support the National Orange Revolution Program", was held at Fruit Paradise – the Nusantara Fruit Seed Center, Curugrengdeng Village, Jalancagak Sub District, Ciater, Subang, West Java, on 12 December 2017.
Rector of IPB, Prof. Dr. Herry Suhardiyanto, said that in the first year the program has successfully established "Nusantara Fruit Seed Center", as the initial foundation of the implementation of the Orange Revolution program in the field. Currently the Nusantara Fruit Seed Center is ready to provide many variety of quality fruit seeds to supply the needs of medium and large scale garden developer; as well as providing consultation services for fruit investors / entrepreneurs.
According to Rector, along with the development of "Science Techno Park", it is a place to transform research results into innovations in the form of products that can be offered and sold to the public. Hundreds of research papers from the IPB will be available to be accessed at the IPB Science Park, through the Nusantara Fruit Seed Center as a meeting forum of IPB with Orange Revolution stakeholders consisting of government, university, industry and community elements. Nusantara Fruit Seed Center will be professionally managed by PT Botani Seed Indonesia (Joint Operation between subsidiaries owned by PT BLST – Holding Company owned by IPB with PKHT LPPM IPB to facilitate cooperation with industry.
Rector stressed that this effort desperately requires close cooperation between various government institutions, universities, industry, and the fruit community of Indonesia. Considering the magnitude of the task to be carried out by IPB and the Orange Revolution Movement, which is to strive for the independence of national fruit consumption, on imports and make Indonesia one of the largest exporters of tropical fruits in Southeast Asia in 2025 and the world in 2045. "However, we believe that this can be achieved with our all togetherness," he said.
Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Mohamad Nasir, conveyed, Nusantara Fruit Seed Center should be able to prepare quality fruit seeds. The most important thing is how to create Commercial Agricultural Quality Standards for the seeds and fruit produced. The Center is implementing latest technology and know-how in plant growing. Fruit trees are produced as either VF (virus free) or CAC (standard) quality of trees Standardization of seed and fruit quality is important to enter the world market. So the hope Nusantra Fruit Seed Center with Start Up model can apply and develop standardization that meet the demand of seeds in large scale from outside and domestic.
Meanwhile, Head of PKHT LPPM IPB, Dr. Darda Efendi explained that the main purpose of the Nusantara Fruit Seed Center to establish a full-fledged certification system with adequate infrastructure and become an example of the national fruit seedling system; establish a National Fruit Production Network and Marketing System with Breeders in various production centers; as well as carrying out production of high quality varieties of seedlings that meet the standards of national and international market (export and import substitution).
He asserted, quality of trees and seeds fruit trees produced by the Nusantara Fruit Seed Center are durian, avocado, longan and orange that use the eye patch of selected parent tree, while papaya callina developed with seeds. At the moment the Nusantara Fruit Seed Center has produced as much as one million callina seedlings utilizing PKHT breeding echniques; 45 thousand durian seedlings (rainbow varieties, sun, montong); 25 thousand avocado seedlings (wina and kendil varieties); 40 thousand oranges seedlings (varieties of conjoined honey and tangerine Batu 55); and 40 thousand seedlings litchi (kateki and itoh varieties). In the coming years the number and types of national standard seedlings to be standardized will continue to grow.
The Nusantara Fruit Seed Center located in Ciater physically has an initial development area of five hectares, with a total area of 1.120 square meters for Green House, 4500 meters for Net House, and is equipped with mechanical irrigation sprayer system and sprinkler. Nusantara Fruit Seed Center is also supported by IPB Tajur Experimental Garden and other fruit and breeding research institutions partners in various production centers.
Director of PT BLST IPB, Dr. Meika Syahbana Rusli, conveyed in front of Nusantara Fruit Seed Center, in addition to be developed as the location of "teaching industry" program and various training course programs, will also be developed further and wider into "Fruit Paradise" which is a pilot of orchard of national superior variety fruit, eduagrotourism in the form of educational, agricultural and public tourism.
"Hopefully in the near future the Nusantra Fruit Seed Center will expand its activities to become a locomotive of National Fruits Industry which will be able to compete with other countries which are also very aggressive in improving its fruit industry such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Pakistan and Australia. Application of technology in the area of nursery, cultivation and post-harvest based region, and marketing programs oriented for the successful implementation of domestic and international demands, which are capable to meet the tastes requirements as the key to the success of this program, "he said.
Other guests present at the inauguration of the Nusantara Fruit Seed Center among others were the Regent of Subang, Hj. Imas Aryumningsih; Banggai Regent, Hj. Maryam Salat; Director General of Innovation Strengthening, Dr. Jumain Appe; Director of Fruit Floriculture, Dr. Saswo Edhy; Director of PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN VIII), Dr. Gunara; and executives of Subang Regency. (Wied)
