Online Training Empowers BSIP Partners in Indonesian Rainfed and Swampy Agricultural Ecosystems

(BOGOR, Indonesia) 24 August 2023 - The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and BSIP Food Crop have successfully conducted an online training program aimed at enhancing the capabilities of partners from BSIP in rainfed areas: North Sumatera and Central Java, and swampy areas: South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Sumatera. This training focused on the Implementation of the Nutrient Omission Plot Technique (NOPT) and Layanan Konsultasi Padi (LKP) Trials, marking a significant step in advancing sustainable agricultural practices in rainfed and swampy ecosystems.

The training was officially opened by Dr. Nuning Argo Subekti, Sp, Msc, on behalf of the Director General of BSIP Food Crop. The program was designed to equip participants with an understanding of the Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) and LKP methodologies.

Dr. Ir. Hasil Sembiring, MSc., IRRI Indonesia Liaison Scientist, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, "This training is crucial to ensure we collect good data from the rainfed and swampy ecosystems to upgrade LKP Indonesia. While these ecosystems are beset with more challenges, I believe they are the future of rice farming."

Participants gained insights into the practical aspects of implementing NOPT, conducting LKP evaluations, and validating LKP-WeRise trials. A major focus of the training was enabling participants to develop plans for the implementation of NOPT, LKP evaluation, and LKP-WeRise validation trials tailored to their respective locations.

Harun Kurniawan, S.Pt, a member of BSIP South Kalimantan, shared, "This training has provided me with an understanding of the science behind LKP.  This knowledge will help us implement the trials and collect high-quality data to enhance LKP."

Suparman, SP, MP, a member of BSIP Central Kalimantan, stated, “The training materials align with the technical prerequisites for activity implementation and are easy to understand. It is worth highlighting the importance of having a shared understanding of tidal swamp agro-ecosystems to ensure the same perception and high-quality data.”

By participating in this training, the partners are expected to contribute to the refinement and optimization of LKP through the insights gained from their trials in rainfed and swampy ecosystems.

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