Hibrid, NO!
Maret 04, 2008
On September 28, 2007, API head official received an email from farming organization which was located in Jombang region API East Java. The letter was for API Head official. It was suggested that API should ask to its linked organization in countries to say "No" to Hybrid seeds which was given by government to the farmers. It was because today, government didn't bother farmers. Farmers were suffered and only depended to the country. We had to do an action to receive a help but didn't receive Hybrid".Based on the situation above, the similar event also occurred in Malang, East Java. A news came from Antara, was caught by Kompas on September 24, 2007. The title was "Hybrid" Paddies seeds given by Government were not properly planted.
The report was:
Malang, Monday - Hybrid Paddy germs given by Government Gading Kecamatan Tajinan: Sunarto, on Monday, told that the damage occurred because hybrid Paddy seeds were contaminated by Valandra and louses.
The hybrid paddy seeds were given by Government on September 20, 2007. It was given to the farmer's organization which won CV. Sawunggaling project. The firm was located on Bebek Street III RT03/02 Waru, Sidoarjo.
The hybrid paddy germ's brands were Beras Super and Beras Prima. It was covered in two kind of package. Each package was one kilogram of Beras Super and two kilogram of Beras Prima. Both kinds of hybrid paddy seeds were damage.
"There were many holes in the package and didn't have any empty air. Actually, hybrid seeds should be placed in an empty air package. When the package was opened, there were many louses and Valandra, the seeds were damage "the said.
Sunarto said, "After he knew the germs condition, he was testing by soaking the seeds for 24 hours. The hybrid seeds which were damage could not grow up properly. There were much seeds were floated. The farmers whom he led got 195 kilograms of hybrid seeds.
"If the hybrid seed's condition was not good, it is possible for the seeds grew only 70% per a kilogram of hybrid seeds. Therefore, we needed a change, otherwise, farmers and government would suffer", he said.
Chief of farmer association Collaboration (Gapoktan) Kecamatan Tajinan, Kabupaten Malang, Jumain said "a planting season September 2007, there were six villages that given hybrid seeds. There were Randu Gading, Tangkil Sari, Ngawongo, Tambak Asri, Jambu Arjo and Pandan Mulyo village.
Hybrid paddy seeds which were received by Kecamatan Tajinan were 2205 kilograms. It would be planted in 147 ha of rice field. 15 kilogram seeds would be planted per ha. Total rice fields of Kecamatan Tajinan were 400 ha. It needed 600 kilograms of paddy seeds.
"We had coordinated to all of farmer's groups in Kecamatan Tajinan. All of farmers' groups received the same hybrid paddy seeds. There were Valandra and other plant disease. Nevertheless, we would send complain letter to get the new seeds". He said.
He argued, "If it was not changed, planting season would be delayed. While the farmers were waiting for other paddy seeds from government, the planting season was delayed. Therefore, it was hopefully CV. Sawunggaling had to substitute the damage paddy seeds".
The chief of B commission, Malang Regional Legislative Assembly, Choirul Anam said that he received the information that hybrid paddy seeds given by government for September 2007 planting reason were damaged. It happened to other, regions of Malang such as Bantur.
`Government budget for hybrid paddy seeds was 9.1 billions rupiahs. Based on present situation, was the high budget enough? We suggested to the providers (CV. Sawunggaling red) to substitute the seeds. The farmers were suffered". He said.
Whole of damage hybrid paddy seeds would be replaced by the new ones in a week, because if would be planted on this month. If the seeds could not be replaced soon, the planting season would be delayed on October.
"Based on this situation, paddy surplus target in Malang region (24,000 tons) was not realized completely. Therefore, we suggested to Gapoktan to send complain letter to Malang Agriculture Official". He explained.
