IPB University AGH Department Encourages Improvement of Logistics System and Seed Quality Assurance for Food Self-Sufficiency
Seeds are the gateway to the future. So that the management of its processing and logistics system needs to be an important agenda. This was conveyed by the Head of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture (AGH), Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University, Prof Edi Santosa in the 3rd series of AGH Webinar and Technical Guidance activities ‘Logistics System and Seed Quality Assurance for Indonesian Food Self-Sufficiency’, 11/3. Prof Edi said that superior quality seeds will produce quality food crops.
“The food self-sufficiency that we crave must be supported by the availability and quality of good seeds and their affordability, seed production centers are centered in Indonesia so of course management at the national level or logistics system is very important,” he explained.
The TNI Marshal Daryatmo , Chairman of the PPSN Executive Board in his speech also said that seed logistics management needs to be improved, especially due to the potential for natural disasters and climate change.
“The polarization of social life due to the residue of the democratization process will also lead to social and food crises that can trigger conflict,” he said in the webinar initiated by the National Strategy Assessment Center (PPSN) and the Indonesian Agronomy Association (PERAGI).
Similarly, Dr M Rahmad Suhartanto, IPB University Lecturer from the AGH Department, explained that modern agriculture 4.0 with precision technology requires seeds with excellent quality in large quantities. Seed processing is one of the important solutions in the seed industry.
“If you suspect that seed production in the field is precise, but the processing is done in the wrong way, of course the expensive and long effort in the seed production process will be in vain. As a result, seed distribution is dominated by poor quality seeds,” he said.
He explained that the activities in the seed processing process are quite long, starting from drying to packaging. “If the seeds are neglected in the seed processing process and not harvested immediately after their physiological period, such as drying and cleaning, the quality will drop,” continued Dr M Rahmad.
The drying process with the right temperature will also determine the vigor and storability of the seeds. He advises seed breeders to be more careful with the drying process.
Dr M Rahmad recommends a pre-drying process by blowing air with a blower before the drying process takes place. This is followed by gradual evaporation, which also reduces production costs. The process of cleaning and sorting the seeds is also important.
“The strategy to produce quality seeds in large quantities is to increase the capacity and quality of seed breeder processing,” he said.
Candra Budiman M Si, Lecturer of AGH Department, Faperta IPB University also explained the development of innovation in seed vigor rapid test method to provide high quality seeds. This method is done by radicle emergence using digital image processing through software. The data obtained is then used to predict the viability or vigor value of the seeds.
The development of this seed vigor test method is considered faster, more accurate and objective. Moreover, so far the available vigor tests are still subjective. Trials of this method have been carried out for rice, soybeans, tomatoes, cayenne pepper, cucumber and so on.
“The digital images obtained are used as data evaluation, then correlated with simple equations to estimate the seed vigor value roughly or simply. The challenge is that we need to create a compatible assessment model for the viability of all food commodities,” he concluded. (MW) (IAAS/RUM)
