UGM is committed to supporting national food security for the future to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
One manifestation of this commitment is the continuous contribution to increasing the number of farmers using Gamagora 7 rice, a rice variety developed by UGM researchers so that it becomes more widely recognized by the public.
Dubbed an amphibious variety because it can be planted in rainfed drylands and paddy fields, Gamagora 7 is characterized by its suitability as an appropriate technology for tackling pests, diseases, and climate change in crop farming.
In 2023, Gamagora 7 successfully passed market trials at nine locations in Central and East Java. Through collaboration with various parties, including the Directorate General of Plantations Ministry of Agriculture, it is now being introduced to other regions.
To optimize palm oil plantation land and increase the expansion of food crops, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Directorate General of Plantations, has implemented the Palm Oil Intercropping with Food Crops Program (Kesatria), focusing on planting upland rice among palm oil plants.
In line with this, as a commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency, on Wednesday (May 22), UGM delivered 400 kilograms of Gamagora 7 rice seeds to farmers in Serang City, Banten Province, through the Banten Agricultural Standards Implementation Agency (BPSIP).
The ceremonial handover was conducted at the BPSIP Banten building, attended by the Strategic Management Bureau and the Agrotechnology Innovation Center (PIAT UGM) representing UGM, and was received directly by the Secretary of the Directorate General of Plantations, Heru Tri Widarto.
UGM Strategic Management Bureau Head, Dr. Wirastuti Widyatmanti, expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the Directorate General of Plantations for the opportunity to distribute Gamagora 7 rice seeds to farmers in Banten.
“Gamagora 7 is the result of the hard work of researchers to produce a superior variety with a production potential of up to 9.80 tons per hectare,” said Dr. Widyatmanti.
She added that with an average yield of approximately 7.95 tons per hectare and a shorter harvest period compared to other varieties, Gamagora 7 is expected to improve the welfare of farmers in Serang, Banten.
Heru Tri Widarto, who also serves as the Regional Task Force Coordinator for Food Emergency in Banten Province, stated that the seed aid is being provided according to the directives of the Minister of Agriculture and the Director General of Plantations to support the expansion of food crop areas, particularly upland rice, in Banten Province.
“This seed aid of Gamagora 7 is the first in Banten, and we highly appreciate UGM,” he said.
Heru Widarto added that several farmer groups plan to plant the seed aid in Serang Regency, Tangerang Regency, and other plantation areas. Utilizing plantation land for food crops can meet the community’s food needs and ensure food security in the future, significantly increasing farmers’ incomes.
Head of BPSIP Banten, Dr. Ismatul Hidayah, said that the Gamagora 7 rice seed aid would be highly beneficial for farmers in Banten Province, as awareness of using certified seeds is already very high.
“Farmers’ knowledge of certified seeds is good, but we struggle to meet seed requests that sometimes reach 40 tons, while our seed production is no more than that,” he explained.
Dr. Hidayah stated that Gamagora 7 rice seeds would be planted on 3 hectares of land in May and gradually on 5 hectares in June. This initial phase of planting Gamagora 7 seeds aims to produce rice and increase the agricultural potential in and around Banten Province.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Photo: Ministry of Agriculture