FMIPA Experts of IPB Improves Farmers Skill in Climate-Based Agriculture in Subang Regency
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) Team of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) consisting of Dr. Perdinan, Dr. I Putu Santikayasa, Yon Sugiarto, MSc and some climate team assistants describe climatic risk in agricultural production and climatic change impact assessment in the agricultural production centers of Subang Regency a to improve farmers' capacity in climate-based agricultural management. This was delivered in the form of field training and discussion of climate in cooperation with Subang Regency, at Agricultural Extension Agency (BPP) of Binong District, Subang Regency, some time ago.
This activity aims to improve farmers capacity in interpreting climate-related risk in agricultural production and in assessing climate change impact on the agricultural production of Subang Regency and to improve farmers capacity in climate-based agriculture management.
As for the climatic impacts on rice growth, farmers report that during the preparation and maintenance, farmers experience difficulties in processing land, during the seeding phase there are some decaying roots, in the vegetative phase rice is susceptible to pests and disease, and in the harvest phase, they often find poor quality grain and decreased grain production. Furthermore, one of the difficulties that farmers experience in the soil cultivation is the need for tractors. Meanwhile on planting, too much water will cause pests or diseases until the harvest phase and too much water during the growing rice grain will cause low production and poor quality of the grain.
Dr. Perdinan of the IPB team said that the water required by farmers is too much and not stagnant water. "Sufficient water is needed in each phase of rice growth; too much or too little water can potentially reduce rice production. If the soil is already saturated, then there is no need for standing water. That's a sign of sufficient water,” he said.
This field training is to form the participation of farmers and extension workers in discussions and training on rain information processing as well as interpretation of climactic risks. In addition, the climate forum can also measure the farmers' knowledge of the rain and the phases of rice crops, the impact of rainfall on each phase of rice growth and water demand in each phase, date of planting based on climatic information, climatic and non-climate factors causing crop failure and actions already taken by farmers to overcome their failures. (Mtd)
