Bayer launched biotech seeds in Indonesia to increase national corn production

By ISMAIL ZAKARIA

Biotechnology seeds will be relied upon to increase national corn production. The hope is that the use of these seeds can improve productivity, efficiency, and farmers' welfare.

That was stated by the Coordinator of the Assessment and Variety Dissemination Subgroup of the Seed Directorate of the Directorate General of Food Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Andi M Saleh. He conveyed this in the launching of the DEKALB DK95R biotechnology seeds from Bayer in Banggo Village, Manggalewa District, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday (26/7/2023).

Bayer Crop Science Country Cluster Head for Southeast Asia & Pakistan Stacy Markovich (fourth from the right), accompanied by, among others, Chairman of the Permanent Commission on Food Security of Kamar Dagang dan Industri Indonesia Hermanto Siregar (third from the left) and Regent of Dompu Kader Jaelani (second from the right), launched DEKALB DK95R biotechnology corn seeds in Banggo Village, Manggalewa District, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday (26/7/2023).    KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

In the event, present were Bayer Crop Science Country Cluster Head for Southeast Asia & Pakistan Stacy Markovich and Regent of Dompu Kader Jaelani.

In addition, Head of Food Crop Department of NTB Agriculture and Plantation Office, Mirza Amir Hamzah, Chairman of the Permanent Committee for the Development of the Food Industry of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hermanto Siregar, as well as corn farmers from NTB and NTT were also present.

"Seeds are the main component that significantly contributes dominantly in increasing plant production and productivity," said Andi.

Bayer Crop Science Country Cluster Head for Southeast Asia & Pakistan Stacy Markovich (second from the left) planted DEKALB DK95R biotechnology corn seeds in Banggo Village, Manggalewa District, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday (26/7/2023).    KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

Andi explained that based on the data on the land area for planting in the Strategic Food Data Collection Information System of the Directorate General of Food Crops and the production data from the Central Statistics Agency, the corn production in Indonesia in 2022 will reach 25.18 million tons of dry kernels. He said that the amount has increased compared to the 2021 production of 23.04 million tons of dry kernels.

According to him, the success in increasing corn production was contributed by the use of superior variety seeds. The realization of certified corn seed usage in 2022 reached 73.59 percent. Compared to 2021, it grew by 1.96 percent, from 72.17 percent.

Therefore, according to Andi, the government will continue to push for an increase in the use of superior variety seeds. "Both by increasing the distribution of seeds through free markets or aid," he said.

He stated that on average, the realization of national hybrid corn seed assistance for the past three years from the National Income and Expenditure Budget (APBN) covered an area of 491,604 hectares, while from provincial assistance tasks covering an area of 581,298 hectares.

Specifically for NTB, it was explained that the realization of hybrid corn seed assistance for the last three years from the APBN covers an area of 43,290 hectares and the provincial assistance task covers an area of 24,049 hectares.

Invitees to the launching of biotechnology corn seeds from Bayer, DEKALB DK95R, witnessed a pesticide spraying simulation using a drone on a farmer's corn field in Banggo Village, Manggalewa District, Dompu Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (26/7/2023).    KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

Biotechnology seeds

Andi explained that the government is continuously pushing for the development of new varieties both through hybrid technology and biotechnology. Up until now, 317 hybrid corn varieties and eight genetically engineered hybrid corn varieties have been released.

Genetic engineering, he said, opens up wide opportunities for breeders to access new genes from exotic and diverse sources to be incorporated into superior varieties or hybrids.

Considering that these varieties are the result of high-technology engineering with large funding, the government continues to encourage the private sector to develop them. Including, among others, what Bayer did through the DEKALB DK95R biotechnology.

The DEKALB DK95R biotech corn seed launched by Bayer in Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday (7/26/2023).    KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

"We hope that the commercialization of biotechnology maize seeds from Bayer Indonesia will have a real impact on the availability of seeds, especially maize, and the increase in national maize production," said Andi.

In 2022, Bayer Indonesia and the Directorate General of Food Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture signed a cooperation agreement to accelerate the adoption of biotechnological corn seeds.

That includes facilitating access and dissemination of the technology through a community-based agricultural business ecosystem called the Better Life Farming program. The aim of the program is to enhance farmers' productivity, efficiency, and well-being.

Bayer Crop Science Country Cluster Head for Southeast Asia & Pakistan, Stacy Markovich, stated that Bayer is committed to bringing innovation or new technology to improve the welfare of farmers in Indonesia.

Compared to conventional corn seeds, DK95R contains roundup ready properties which are tolerant or safe to glyphosate or the active ingredients in roundup herbicides. So, when spraying weeds, the corn plants with DK95R seeds are not damaged.

Continue reading at KOMPAS.