Workshop on Biotech Potato for Farmers and Agricultural Officers Concludes in Bengkulu, Indonesia

A Workshop on "The role of biotechnology in potato breeding and its regulations in Indonesia" for farmers and government officials was officially opened by the Head of Agricultural Bureau of Bengkulu Province on 17 September 2013. The topics covered include: potato variety improvement through conventional breeding by Ir. Kusmana of Indonesian Vegetables Research Institute; biotechnology applications in potato trait improvement; and biotechnology products and its regulations in Indonesia by Dr. Dinar Ambarwati and Prof. M. Herman of ICABIOGRAD, respectively. Ir. Edi Nevian, Head of Agricultural Bau of Bengkulu welcomed the participants and emphasized that biotechnology is necessary especially in Bengkulu. They have a red potato variety which is expected to be one of the primary products in Indonesia once new traits are incorporated to increase its productivity.

The participants also expressed their enthusiasm toward the application of biotech crops. Farmer participants fully supported the idea that biotechnology can be a tool to help them improve potato yield and increase their income. They are hoping that biotech crops especially biotech potato could be commercialized in the near future. The workshop brought together 45 farmers and agricultural officials from three regencies in Bengkulu Province through the support of the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSP II) in collaboration with IndoBIC and ICABIOGRAD, ISAAA, and SEAMEO BIOTROP.

For details, contact Dewi Suryani of IndoBIC at cattleyavanda@gmail.com.