THE CRISIS due to extreme climate change has a very broad impact on the agricultural sector. One of the impacts felt is a decrease in productivity due to drought and the spread of attacks by Plant Pest Organisms (OPT).
In response to this, the Yogyakarta Magelang Agricultural Development Polytechnic (Polbangtan) held a Millennial Agriculture Forum (MAF) Webinar with the theme Facing Future Food Challenges “Optimizing Rice Production and Controlling Pests and Diseases”.
Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman said that agriculture is an important sector that must receive joint attention. For that, Mentan invited all parties to jointly maintain and advance agriculture.
The same thing was conveyed by the Acting Head of the Agricultural Extension and Human Resources Development Agency (BPPSDMP), Dedi Nursyamsi.
“Agriculture should not be a problem, in any condition agriculture should not be a problem. Because agriculture concerns the food needs of many people. Therefore, the city must ensure that agriculture continues to produce,” he said.
Director of the Yogyakarta Magelang Agricultural Development Polytechnic (Polbangtan), Bambang Sudarmanto, when delivering his opening speech said that the theme raised was something that was currently trending or being hotly discussed.
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“The agricultural conditions are not good, we are facing an extreme El Nino climate. This needs to be anticipated. Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) is promoting a pumping program to maintain the supply of irrigation water to maintain the productivity of existing standing crops. In addition, efforts are also being made to Expand the Planting Area (PAT) with dryland rice varieties,” he explained.
Bambang added that extreme climates also have an impact on the spread of many pests and diseases.
“Brown Planthopper (BPH) is currently spreading, as are rice stem borers and blast which are susceptible to attacking dryland rice. Considering that we are currently promoting dryland rice planting, this must be prevented and handled immediately. Through this MAF, resource persons are presented who are expected to provide enlightenment for all of you,” said Bambang.
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Head of the Center for Agricultural Education (Kapusdiktan), Idha Widi Arsanti, said that in efforts to prevent and control plant pests and diseases, the role of Plant Pest Control (POPT) is very important.
“POPT is very vital, they play an important role in detecting as early as possible the threat of pests or diseases to avoid production failures in the future so that we can achieve the President’s mandate to realize rice self-sufficiency,” said Santi.
In addition, Santi also advised Polbangtan students throughout Indonesia who are currently on duty assisting the PAT and Special Efforts Program (UPSUS) to also be able to support OPT control efforts in the field.
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“During the mentoring activities, perhaps the students will encounter several cases regarding…
OPT, therefore we hope that students can help solve this problem,” said Santi.
The webinar, which was attended by 1,000 participants from all over Indonesia, brought in two competent speakers in their fields, namely Busyairi Latiful Asyar, from the Center for Forecasting Plant Pest Organisms, and Dedi Mulyadi, Director of Agrospora Bumi Indonesia.
In his material, Busyairi said that the task of a POPT is to provide forecast numbers as an early warning.
“The main task of POPT is to provide forecast figures by implementing the P3OPT Procedure as the main component of PHT (plant pest control). The first step of POPT is to conduct OPT observations based on existing information and knowledge,” he said. (Z-8)
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