Located at the Office of the Agriculture and Food Security Service of NTT Province, Acting Governor of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Dr. Andriko Noto Susanto, SP, MP launched the hybrid corn seed variety Nusa-01 produced by NTT with the brand “NUSA TIMORE 77”. This ceremony was held on Saturday (11/23/2024) and was marked by the handover of seeds, ribbon cutting and the departure of 2 (two) seed trucks to be further distributed to districts receiving government corn seed assistance in NTT province in 2024.
NUSA TIMORE 77 is the result of seed cultivation and intensification of hybrid corn in collaboration between UB and the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government, which began in 2022 in West Sumba Regency. This collaboration then continued in Kupang Regency in 2023.
“In 2024, this activity will continue with the development of seeds in Kupang Regency covering an area of 28 ha with an estimated production of ± 60 tons. Hybrid corn seeds of the Nusa-01 variety are marketed under the brand NUSA TIMORE 77 and in the South Central Timor district for the development of intensification of Nusa-01 variety seeds and diversification of corn-based products for food and corn and its biomass for animal feed”, explained Andriko.
“We need to continue to make joint efforts to support food security, food independence and food sovereignty. The parameters are using the Food Balance (NBM) and the Expected Food Pattern (PPH) which consists of 9 food groups so that we will know which foods we have a surplus and which are still lacking to carry out program/activity interventions either through intensification, extensive or diversification. “, he added.
Andriko further said that in intensification, the seed factor is one of the components that plays an important role in achieving productivity.
“Thus, what we are doing in NTT is something useful because we can produce superior certified hybrid corn seeds in situ/independently. I hope this will be a good starting momentum for us to produce more so that we can meet the seed needs of our farmers”, he concluded.
From this collaboration, NTT, which initially depended on corn supplies from Java, can now reduce its dependence. This was conveyed by the Head of the Crops and Horticulture Division, Nixon Balukh, SP, M.Si
“In 2024, NTT received central government seed assistance of 31,240 ha requiring ± 468 tons of seeds worth ± 21 billion, if through this seed cultivation we can produce ± 60 tons of seeds, it means we can cut ± 2.7 billion in seed spending, the money turnover is in NTT”, he explained.
In the future, Nixon explained that there will be an expansion of seed cultivation and types. “We will involve the UPTD Seeds and we will expand to sorghum commodities and the horticultural Nursery for chilies and shallots and the proposals are in a joint process”, said Nixon.
Separately, Prof. Arifin Noor as a hybrid corn breeder of the Nusa-01 variety expressed his pleasure in being able to contribute to the development of hybrid corn seeds in NTT.
“I hope that the cooperation in the development of hybrid corn seed cultivation in NTT will continue to be improved both in terms of volume and areas carrying out seed cultivation activities,” he concluded. (dian/VQ/UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
