IPB Contributed the Concept of Overcoming the Soybean Crisis for the Ministry for Economic Affairs
Addressing the scarcity and rising price of soybeans issues recently, the Directorate for Research and Strategic Studies (DIT RKS) IPB organized the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on "Kebijakan Harga Kedelai, Green Revolution dan Kesejahteraan Petani” (Soybean price policy, the Green Revolution and the Welfare of Farmers)” on Wednesday, 1 August 2012. The event was held in the meeting room of Gedung Rektorat Andi Hakim Nasoetion, Dramaga campus, Bogor. The meeting was officially opened by Vice Rector for Research and Cooperation IPB, Prof Dr Anas Fauzi Miftah.
At this FGD four topics were presented by experts who are competent in their fields, namely "Food Sovereignty" by Dr. Arya H. Dharmawan, “Peningkatan Produktivitas Kedelai Melalui Pengembangan Varietas Baru Penyediaan Benih Bermutu dan Teknologi Budidaya” (Increasing productivity of soybeans through the breeding of new cultivars, the provision of qulity seeds, cultivation technology, and by Prof. Dr. Munif Ghulamahdi. Other topics was "diversification of local beans for soybeans substitution" by Dr. Arif Hartoyo, and "Policy and trade of soybeans" by Dr. Iman Sugema.
Dr Arya stated that according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the national demands of soybean in 2011 had reached 2.4 million tons, while domestic products for the such period was only 0.85 million tons. So that Indonesia is very dependent on imported soybean s, particularly from the United States (USA).
While currently, the USA is experiencing 56-year climatic cycle, which affect the suffering areas by drought, thereby reducing the production of food crops such as soybeans. Moreover, the fact the current global issues, namely the issue of green politics (cassava, soya, etc.), to meet the needs of fuels, they have transformed food stocks into biodiesel.
On the other hand, the internal problems in the country which is unsolveable utilizing technology such as the land conversion of about 100,000 hectares in Java per year, thus diminishing the agricultural lands in Java. However, approximately 70 percent of the soybean production centers is located in Java. In addition, there are government policies related to the acceleration and expansion of the economy resulted to the accelerating the conversion of land on the island of Java. Moreover, the influential of political economy such as the lack of importers as well as the reduced role of BULOG. Finally, inter-related issues such as environmental impacts, governance, as well as the fact that Indonesia is currently trapped in a "trade trap".
“For that, the dimensions of solving problems such as the increasing demands for soybeans will be the affirmative action," said Dr. Arya who was the first speaker on the FGD and the moderator for this session was Prof Dr Roedhy Poerwanto.”
According to the Dr. Arif Hartoyo, such problems is easily solvable, it can increase the soybean production and the use of alternative local beans as a soybeans substitute, where the political economy aspects that accompany should be studied.
"One type of alternatives beans which is being developed is komak beans that are grown extensively in East Java, particulalry in Probolinggo. Komak beans is the source of protein, it grows well on marginal land, and the quantity for food production is low. For example in NTB, komak beans have been widely used as raw materials for Tempe and they are acceptable by the community. " Said Dr. Arif.
To finalize the discussion, Prof Dr Munif Ghulamahdi said that steps to taken to achieve the adequacy of the national production among other are, the utilization of superior varieties, the adequacy of seeds, site-specific farming technology, the availabilty of cultivation areas, and marketing facilities. One of the approaches being developed IPB is the utilization sub-optimal lands, the tidal C-type and dry land of low pH.
Meanwhile, Dr. Iman Sugema expressed that the importers of food products will always seek the greater amount and types of imported food products. the overnment should change its policy, the importation licences should only be granted to the state or state-owned enterprises.
In other session, Dr Iman expressed the need for revitalization of the management of food stocks (including soybeans, corn, rice and other carbohydrate source). The reason, corn and soybean oil are still dominant products thast are needed in the developed countries.
The FGD was attended by about 40 participants, which include teaching staff and journalists. "Recommendation resulted of the FGD will be submitted to the Ministry for Economic Affairs," added Director of RKS IPB Prof Dr Zulkarnaen Iskandar Siregar. (Wied).
