Increasing the Role of Tuber in Indonesia, IPB Students Hold 2018 Field Day
The Student Association of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University (Himagron Faperta IPB) held the 2018 Field Day event at Dramaga IPB Campus (28-30/9). The activity with the theme "Increasing the Tuber Role Towards Indonesian Food Independence" consisted of several series of activities namely scientific writing competition, cooking competition with tubers the main ingredient, free distribution of seeds, and national seminar.
The Chief Executive, Faizun Nabhan said that food sources are not only rice, but can be sourced from tubers. According to him, the potential of tubers in Indonesia needs attention so that they can be used optimally.
"In Indonesia there are a lot of tubers, but at the moment these receive less attention to develop," said Faizun.
Indonesia has various kinds of tubers such as cassava, sweet potato, taro, suweg, gembili, canna, and gadung. According to him, these are the potential that needs to be utilized as a national food diversification effort. Diversification efforts cannot immediately replace the role of rice as the main food source with tubers, but must be done gradually.
Dr. Ir. Asep Setiawan, M.S., Secretary of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB said that food source also includes tubers. Tuber development in Indonesia deserves support especially in terms of postharvest production and processing.
"This topic is interesting because of the abundant potential of tubers in Indonesia so that production needs to be developed. "Not only from the production, but also processed products from tuber as the main ingredient, it needs to be developed so that people are interested in consuming processed foods from tubers," Asep concluded.
Some examples of tuber-based processed products are analog rice, cakes, pasta, chips, and other preparations. In order for people to be interested in the processing of tubers, there is a need for new innovations so that processed products from tubers can vary.
The 2018 field day series was symbolically opened by the Rector of IPB, Dr. Arif Satria by pulling cassava plants. The opening was witnessed by the Vice Rector for Resources, Planning and Finance, Prof. Dr. Ir. Agus Purwito, M.Sc., Agr., students, and the general public. Field day activities were also enlivened with healthy morning exercise, bazaar of agricultural products, and blood donors. (FM)
