Shallot Cultivation Success, This is the Key
GENERAL | 06 Aug 2021 09:01:23 PM
East Java Newsroom- The key to onion cultivation, including the development of a horticultural village area, must begin with the use of quality and certified seeds. Quality seeds are the main means and their use is a must in horticultural agribusiness.
With quality seeds, high quality products will also be produced. However, a researcher from the Research Institute for Vegetable Crops (Balitsa), Joko Pinilih, said that before producing seeds, farmers must be familiar with the onion varieties to be developed. This is so that the treatment given is right on target.
Joko continued, there are two types of shallot seeds, namely tubers and true seeds shallot (TSS). The advantages of tuber seeds are that they produce a relatively uniform shape and are easy to breed. While the weakness, tuber seeds have a dormancy period of 2-3 months, can not stand storage, and need intensive care in storage warehouses.
To plant shallot seeds, one of the most important provisions is that the land used is not former land for plants of the same type or family. Then, the altitude of the land is at 0-2000 above sea level, soil pH is 6.0 – 7.0, and is exposed to direct sunlight for at least 12 hours per day.
“In choosing a location, make sure the land used is not former land of similar plants or families. This is the most important thing,” said Joko.
In addition to land selection, the selection of quality seeds also plays a major role. Joko explained that the use of quality seeds can prevent plants from plant diseases, such as fusarium wilt, onion mosaic virus, and powdery mildew.
Furthermore, the characteristics of seeds that are ready to harvest are the neck of the tuber is weak, 80 percent of the leaves are yellow, and some of the tubers are sticking out above the soil surface. It is important to harvest the tubers when the weather is sunny.
After harvesting, withering treatment is given to make the tuber skin redder and shiny. Drying of seed tubers also needs to be done until the dry-dead stage because the tubers will be stored to wait for the dormancy to break. “For storage, remove damaged tubers. Make sure the room temperature is 30-33 degrees Celsius and humidity is 65-77 percent,” said Joko.
Plt. Director of Horticultural Seeds, Liferdi Lukman said, there are at least four seed strategies that will be applied to support the development of Horticultural Villages. Among other things, the distribution of superior varieties, increased supervision over the distribution and certification of seeds, strengthening and increasing seed production capacity, and increasing the capacity of human resources in the seed sector.
“An equally important strategy is to increase the capacity of human resources in the seed sector. One of them is through this technical guidance. Even though online, there is still assistance for farmers and extension workers to increase their knowledge,” said Liferdi when opening the technical guidance entitled Production of Quality Shallots Seeds Supporting the Development of Shallot Areas/Villages, last Friday.
Liferdi added that in 2021, the state budget of Rp. 27.3 billion was allocated for the development of the shallot area of 3,900 ha from Aceh to Papua. This APBN is prioritized to support production in deficit areas. (jal)
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