Recently, the IPB 9G rice seed variety received recognition from the Minister of Agriculture. As a tangible show of support, the Ministry of Agriculture purchased IPB 9G rice seeds worth Rp250 billion.
In response, IPB University reaffirmed its readiness to meet the challenge set by the Minister by continuing to develop high-yielding rice varieties. A “Rice Seed Production Field Meeting” was held at the IPB Experimental Rice Field, Kp Sawah Baru, Babakan, Dramaga, Bogor (4/13).
Rector Dr Alim Setiawan Slamet stated that IPB University continues to encourage breeders to produce innovative, high-yielding rice varieties that are adaptive and productive.
“We strongly support exceptional breeders like Prof Hajrial to continue developing high-yielding varieties, particularly rice seeds. Alhamdulillah, IPB has produced 15 high-yielding varieties, ranging from IPB 1R to IPB 15S, whose seeds we are harvesting today,” he said.
He added that IPB University’s high-yielding varieties are now widely accepted by the public and used on nearly 110.000 hectares of land in Indonesia. In fact, he noted, IPB University has been challenged by the government to develop varieties with yields of up to 15 tons per hectare.
“We will strengthen collaboration, both domestically and internationally, to address these challenges in order to support national food security,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prof. Hajrial Aswidinnoor, a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University, explained that the development of IPB’s high-yielding varieties focuses not only on productivity but also on nutritional value and environmental sustainability.
“We continue to strive to produce varieties that not only yield high harvests but also contain nutrients such as zinc (Zn) and folic acid (FA), and are efficient in fertilizer and water use,” he explained.
He added that IPB University’s varieties are developed using a new rice type approach, which features a plant architecture distinct from Green Revolution varieties.
“The main characteristics are larger plant size, longer leaves, and denser panicles. With this architecture, the plants remain capable of high yields even with lower fertilizer doses,” he said.
According to him, this innovation is also aimed at producing rice that is more adaptive to climate change, including the development of deeper root systems and greater water efficiency.
Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Agromaritime Development Prof. Ernan Rustiadi emphasized the importance of commercializing innovations so that research results can be widely applied in society.
“Our role is to bridge the gap between IPB’s innovations and their adoption in the field and entry into the industrial sector, thereby preventing a ‘valley of death’ between research and implementation,” he explained.
He noted that over the past 15 years, IPB University’s high-yielding varieties have gained increasing acceptance among farmers. Of the eight national rice varieties with high-yield potential (over 11 tons per hectare), five are the result of IPB University’s innovations.
“All of these IPB high-yielding varieties fall under the category of new type rice that is climate resilient, water efficient, fertilizer efficient, low emission, and possesses high productivity and disease resistance,” he added.
He emphasized that the adoption of these varieties requires a shift in farming practices through new operational standards that are more efficient and sustainable.
Through this initiative, IPB University not only showcases its research achievements but also reinforces its commitment to delivering innovative high-yielding rice varieties capable of addressing the challenges of productivity, climate change, and improving the nutritional quality of the Indonesian population. (AS) (IAAS/PRO)
