The Economic Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on the Agriculture Sector

The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia began to be confirmed in early February 2020, it affects many various economic sectors, including agriculture. The COVID-19 created challenges for socio-economic issues. This short note focuses on the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the agricultural sector. The COVID-19 outbreak had a wide-ranging impact, so that agricultural commodities continued to decline. The government's call to not leave the house resulted in many farmers not doing their activities so that it has an impact on declining farmers' income. The field officers also could not optimally carry out their work as a result the development of farming was not optimal. Various efforts have been made by the government to support the agricultural sector such as building e-marketing and training in processing yields for farmers.

Advantages of Hybrid Corn Seed Production Compared to Corn Grain

Corn seed breeders are indispensable in the supply of superior hybrid corn seeds. Its ability to produce seeds is evaluated for their superiority compared to the production of corn grain yield. A study was conducted in Jatirogo District, Tuban Regency, East Java province in July to December 2019. Involving farmers cooperator implementing hybrid corn seed production in the area of 96 ha and non cooperator farmers who produce the corn grain yield in the same location. We observed the variables: cost of production, yield and farmers income. Data and information were analyzed by Benefit Cost Ratio (B/C) and Marginal Benefit Cost Ratio (MBCR). The results showed that farmers who produced hybrid corn seeds of Nasa-29 variety (cooperators) were able to produce 4.6 t/ha of wet cobs with an income of IDR. 19,470,000/ha, while farmers who produced grain corn of 7.9 t/ha with an income of IDR. 15,943,000/ha. MBCR analysis showed that, the switching is able to added the farmer income Rp.4,100 for every use cost Rp.1,000 as long as the seed procurement policy remains unchanged and related institutions continue to provide support.

Genetic Diversity of Duabanga moluccana Blume from Two Provenances in West Nusa Tenggara Revealed by Microsatellite markers

Duabanga moluccana Blume, locally known as Rajumas, is a tree species that suitable for building materials, pulp, and plywood. The information about genetic diversity is required for the conserving of this species. Here, we elucidated the genetic diversity of D. moluccana from two provenances in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Four microsatellite markers successfully amplified 12 randomly selected samples and produced polymorphic DNA bands. Those primers were DMAG10, DMAG09, DMACAG01 and DMTCAC11. High genetic diversity was detected in the populations with 0.54 of mean expected heterozygosity (He). The genetic variation among individuals was 100%, whereas there were no genetic variations among populations and within individuals

Is Input Utilization Inelastic to Coffee Production

The agricultural sector is one of the important sectors for the Indonesian economy. Coffee is one of the commodities produced from the plantation sub-sector included in the agricultural sector which also contributes greatly to the Indonesia economy, especially as a source of foreign exchange, employment and income sources as well as other economic actors. This study aims to determine whether the factors of land area production, number of productive trees, farming costs and labour used by coffee farmers are elastic or inelastic to coffee production. Samples were taken as many as 400 coffee farmers spread in four districts namely North Toraja Regency, Enrekang Regency, Sinjai Regency and Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Data collected in the form of primary data and secondary data. The analysis used the Cobb-Douglass production function. The results show that the use of production factors; land area, number of productive trees, farming costs and labor are inelastic to coffee production, the scale of farming follows the rules of increasing return to scale. Therefore, it is expected that the support of local government (related institutions) to assist coffee farmers in providing superior seeds to increase coffee production, farmers incomes and reduce land conversion.

Short-Term Forecasting Model of Animal Food Commodities in Central Sulawesi

Shifting patterns of community consumption from vegetable protein to animal protein encouraged high demand for animal food, so it was needed an estimate of the supply and demand for its products. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the short-term forecasting model of the production and price of beef and broiler meat in Central Sulawesi. The research used time series data. Production data and price of beef and broiler meat were taken from 2015 - 2019. The analytical tool used was the ARIMA Box-Janskin forecasting method. The results showed a short-term forecasting model for beef production (1,0,0) and broiler meat (3,2,1). Short-term forecasting model for beef price (1,0,1) and broiler meat (1,1,1). This finding could be used as a reference in making policies related to the production and price of beef and broilers meat in order to meet the needs of the community, especially in Central Sulawesi.

Formulation of Bacillus and Azotobacter Consortia in Liquid Cultures: Preliminary Research on Microbes-Coated Urea

The spore-forming Bacillus and cysts forming Azotobacter are Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria which has been used as biofertilizer in sustainable agriculture since they tolerant to dried soil. Drought resistant microbes will be useful to coat urea in order to reduce the lost of nitrogen. The objectives of this preliminary study were to study the effect of molasse based liquid media on the population of Bacillus spore and Azotobacter vegetative cell and to determine the composition of four bacterial species in liquid formula. In the first experiment The Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, A. chroococcum and A. vinelandii were grown separately in 1% cane molasses enriched with 0.1% NH4Cl. As control treatment, The Bacillus and Azotobacter were grown in Nutrient Broth and Ashby’s mannitol broth respectively. In the second experiment, different composition of said Bacillus and Azotobacter were grown in molasses based liquid media prior to count the spore and vegetative cell. The results showed that molasses-based media supported bacterial growth and initial ratio 1:1:1:1 of liquid inoculant was effective to increase bacterial growth. This experiment suggested that the use of organic based media was useful practice of liquid biofertilizer formulation for granule urea coating.

The Strategy of Phytoplankton on Critical Conditions in Coastal Waters

The productivity of phytoplankton found best in coastal waters is on a critical aquatic environmental condition for the life of phytoplankton (incubation time : 10.00-14.00). At that incubation time, the sun reached the apex of illumination (12.00). Theoretically, the best productivity is unlikely to happen because the activity of phytoplankton is not perfect. To answer that doubt, the research deals with the strategy of life phytoplankton on critical conditions in coastal waters. To achieve the desired results, multivariate analysis is used Correspondent analysis (CA) and Principal Components Analysis (PCA). The results showed that based on the analysis of Factorial Koresponde (CA), there were two grouping of phytoplankton abundance. Group I showed that the grouping of phytoplankton abundance of occurred at A depth of 10 m at the sampling time A (10.00 : normal conditions). Group II occurs at a depth of 5 and 15 m at sampling time B (14.00: critical condition). Furthermore, the shift in grouping phytoplankton occurs at the sampling time A at a depth of 10 m into the sampling time B in 5 m depth, not at at a depth of 0 m. This is due to the very strong sunlight intensity that can lead to death in the genera of phytoplankton that exist. It turns out that the strategy and the dynamics of phytoplankton abundance at critical time is not doing the grouping at the surface depth (0 m), but at a deeper depth (5 m) in order to keep the activity well done.

Prices of Agricultural Products and Poverty: How Strongly are the Two Linked?

Prices of agricultural products and poverty relationship are the two types of standing issue to solve. This paper tries to argue that price of agricultural products (hereafter, agricultural price) and poverty are strongly related. We employed Correlation (intermediate step) and Path (final step) in the analysis procedure. The results show that, first, the association degree between agricultural input (note as well, that price is crucial factor to get input) with poverty approaching 70%, indicating that agricultural input is good-fit in explaining poverty. Second, the higher the frequency of getting agricultural extension, and price information for various inputs (and output) in agriculture, the higher the crop productions (agricultural sector, in broad sense) will be gained. This indicates these two variables (inputs-outputs prices) can also be expected to be important instruments in increasing smallholders’ income and in turn help them living above poverty line. Farmers household income is strongly affected by prevailing market price. Agricultural price is functioning as intermediate part of income calculation. It is clear that price of agricultural products has a strong linkage with rural poverty alleviation in the country.

Food Safety Problems in China: Based on the Illegally Waste Cooking Oil

The illegal oil (coming from the waste cooking oil and animals’ fat, etc.) is being processed as daily edible oil by a series of processing programs in China. It contains enormous toxic carcinogenic substances such as aflatoxin, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), etc. In China, 22 million tons of cooking oil is approximately consumed each year, however, 2-3 million tons (account for 10%) of the illegal oil is circulated back to the daily market finally. This research aims to analyze four parts among the illegal oil. It combines the Chinese food safety legal loophole with the treatments of other developed countries to solve China’s illegal oil problem. What’s more, carrying out a field survey is conducted to understand the source of the illegal oil and have a clear understanding of consumers’ usage. Next, the main reason for the spread of the illegal oil which is from the street stalls and restaurants is revealed. The new technique is also used to transform the illegal oil into biodiesel fuel (BDF), however, the material (the illegal oil) cannot be easily obtained due to many barriers and challenges in China. Based on the field survey results, setting up a specific feedback mechanism for restaurants/hotels and the other policy implications are proposed to China’s governments for solving the illegal oil issue in China.

Production Risk of Seaweed Cultivation in South Sulawesi: Comparison between Cobb-Douglas and Just-Pope Production Function

Fluctuation in production on farm of seaweed Eucheuma cottonii could be affected by climate, pests and diseases, input factors, management and socio-economic conditions of farmers. The objectives of this study were (1) analyzed determinants of productivity, (2) analyzed the factors that affected the risk of production, and (3) analyzed the factors that affected productivity after considering the risk of production. The samples used in this study were 210 seaweed farmers selected by using proportional random sampling method. Multiple linear regression model with Cobb-Douglas and Just-Pope production functions were used to analyze the data. The results showed that (1) Productivity of seaweed E. cottonii positively influenced by number of seeds, bond distance of seeds and labor; (2) area of lots, seeds and bond distance of seeds negatively effected the risk of production; and (3) area of lots, seeds, bond distance of seeds, labor, and experience of farmers positively effected the productivity after considering of risks whereas age of farmers affected negatively. Values of regression coefficient had significant affected the productivity of seaweed E.cottonii (Cobb-Douglas model) tended to decline after considering the risk of production (Just-Pope model). This implies that in analyzing seaweed productivity, it needs to consider the risks in the model.