Brawijaya University (UB) has confirmed Prof. Dr. lr. Nur Edy Suminarti, M.S as the Professor in the Field of Agrometeorology, making her the 34th active Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture (FP) and the 210th active Professor at Brawijaya University. With this inauguration, Prof. Nur Edy Suminarti also became the 373rd Professor of all Professors produced by Brawijaya University.
The inauguration took place on Wednesday, February 21 2024, at the Samantha Krida Building offline. In his scientific oration, Prof. Nur Edy Suminarti delivered a presentation entitled “PM-BWEB Method for Developing Dompol Taro Plants in Dry Land”
The method developed by Prof. Nur Edy Suminarti is known as the website-basedpranoto-mongso method (PM-bweb), which is an important innovation in the current era of global climate change. This method uses water balance analysis to determine the planting season, with a focus on the development of dompol taro plants in dry land.
Taro tubers have important value as functional food ingredients, especially for diabetes sufferers. However, determining the planting season for dompol taro usually follows local culture with the traditional pranoto-mongso (PMT) calendar system, which is now becoming less accurate due to global climate change.
The PM-bweb method utilizes climate data accessed via the BMKG website to prepare a water balance analysis which is the basis for determining planting time.
“The advantage of the pranoto-mongso web (PM-bweb) method is that it helps and encourages work to be more efficient and effective, information is easily distributed, cheaper and more powerful, easy to update, easier access to information, easier to develop, and more safe”. explained Prof. Nur Edy Suminarti.
“However, this method also has several weaknesses, such as the need for an internet network to be able to access data via the website, internet networks are not yet available in all regions in Indonesia, complete data on climate elements is only available and can be accessed through large climatology stations only (class 1 and 2), knowledge about accessing data via websites (internet) or knowledge about water balance analysis is not yet possessed by all farmers in Indonesia, pest and disease disorders related to climate change have not been considered in this method.” she added.
It is hoped that by implementing the PM-bweb method, farmers can determine planting times more precisely, determine the type of commodity to be planted according to the results of the water balance analysis, plan appropriate planting patterns, avoid crop failure, increase crop productivity, and realize a better food security program. (WDD/ UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
