Agrarian research must be at local level

Agrarian research must be at local level

JAKARTA (JP): Agricultural research and development (R&D)
needs to be conducted at the local level to help communities
identify and promote the most promising commodities in their
respective regions, Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah
said yesterday.

"Currently, promotions to use certain agricultural techniques
can only be applied in general, but cannot solve specific, local
problems," he said at the opening yesterday of a seminar on the
application of potassium magnesium sulfate (SKMg) fertilizer.

Sjarifudin acknowledged that decentralizing agricultural
research and development activities would encourage each region
to develop according to its own strengths.

The seminar discussed the usage of the newly-introduced SKMg
fertilizer, known also by its mineral term, langbeinite.

Sjarifudin said that many problems faced by farmers could be
more easily handled if research and development agencies were
established at the local levels, instead of in Jakarta and
provincial capitals only.

In introducing fertilizing technologies, for instance, the
government's promotions have been limited to general application
techniques, without considering specific geographic conditions,
Sjarifudin said.

"We must now make changes if we want to increase
productivity ... Research and development must not only focus on
food crops, but should include other commodities as well.
Especially those which can be considered the major strength of a
certain region," he said.

Higher productivity has become an important issue in
agriculture, not only because agricultural areas have been
extended but also because the government has set certain targets
to be reached, he said.

"With targets set for production and export and with the
distribution of various credit and banking programs as well as
marketing and transportation facilities, the demand and usage for
fertilizers will no doubt increase," Sjarifudin said.

In the last 15 years, the utilization of several types of
fertilizers has increased by 106 percent, or about 7.1 percent
per year.

In 1981, only 3.1 million tons of fertilizers were used by
farmers. In 1996, however, the utilization reached 6.4 million
tons. The fertilizers whose utilization has increased include
urea, super phosphate, KCl and ZA.

In terms of agricultural extension, areas designated for
plantations have grown from 8.3 million hectares in 1981 to 13.8
million hectares in 1996. The variety of commodities has also
increased to include palm oil, cacao, coffee and sugar.

"All of these developments will increase the usage of and
demand for fertilizers," Sjarifudin said. (pwn)